Sharktwat you have missed the Bulls team

It was a chance for you to jump on the JJ wagon.......JJ is being rested this weekend, lets have your take on him being dropped

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made wholesale changes to his backline for their Currie Cup match against the Eastern Province Kings at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The backline consist of some the most exciting talent in the country with fullback Jesse Kriel and centre William Small-Smith earning a starting berth ahead of Jurgen Visser and JJ Engelbrecht, respectively.

Flyhalf Tony Jantjies comes in for the injured Jacques-Louis Potgieter and will partner scrumhalf Rudy Paige, who replaces Piet van Zyl.

Hooker Bongi Mbonambi will earn a start in place of Callie Visagie, who drops out of the match-day 22.

In the front row Marcel van der Merwe moves from loosehead to tighthead with Dean Greyling returning after a week's suspension.

BLUE BULLS: Jesse Kriel, Akona Ndungane, William Small-Smith, Burger Odendaal, Sampie Mastriet, Tony Jantjies, Rudi Paige, Jono Ross, Jacques du Plessis, Deon Stegmann (captain), Grant Hattingh, Paul Willemse, Marcel van der Merwe, Bongi Mbonambi, Dean Greyling.

Replacements: Bandise Maku, Werner Kruger, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Wiaan Liebenberg, Piet van Zyl, Joshua Stander, Ulrich Beyers.

Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke’s search for answers after a disasterous start to the Absa Currie Cup this year has led him to make no less than six changes to the team to face the EP Kings at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

After conceding 82 points in their opening two games, the Bulls have turned to their youth brigade to provide some spark, finally rewarding some of the players that have been knocking on the door for a long time now.

Prime among those is hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who has been rewarded for his consistent play and gritty determination by coming into the starting line-up for only the second time all year.

He replaces Callie Visagie, who drops out of the match 23 altogether, although Ludeke stressed this was simply rotational.

There are also first-time starts for Jesse Kriel, William Small-Smith, Tony Jantjies and Rudy Paige, while Marcel van der Merwe moves across to tighthead to accommodate the return of Dean Greyling from suspension.

According to the Bulls, Visagie, JJ Engelbrecht, Jacques Engelbrecht and Jurgen Visser are all rested, strangely as they are the same players who were out of form in the last two games, while Jacques-Louis Potgieter has been ruled out of action for four weeks.

Kriel will play in his more favoured fullback position, Small-Smith will partner Burger Odendaal at outside centre, while the new halfback combination will need to dictate from the start.

Regular Under-21 pivot Joshua Stander will be among the reserves and, if called upon, will make his Currie Cup debut.

Coach Ludeke said the team desperately needed to show their worth on the field after two disappointing performances in the competition this season.

“In both games we had field position, that shows that we had quality exits from our half,” Ludeke said.

“We’re getting to the right areas and we’re working to force turnovers. Against the Stormers we were up against some good defence and at times there was simply some bad decision making from us, we had overlaps which we never used.

“That is the good thing about reviewing it, it gives you a different perception about what is going on. At 19-12, there was a turning point and we never took it. We missed the opportunity and they scored. We were competitive but we made mistakes and gave them soft tries.

“From there on it was all soft tries, tries they didn’t work for. We looked at it, what decisions we need to be making in those situations. It wasn’t a lack of effort or commitment, it was just accuracy. We looked at it and made the changes. I’m confident we worked hard in the last five weeks, we didn’t expect to get those results but we’ll take it.

“We want to change that by playing well. We know we can talk a lot, this weekend we need to deliver. We have quality in the side, there are no more excuses.”

VODACOM BLUE BULLS: Jesse Kriel, Akona Ndungane, William Small-Smith, Burger Odendaal, Sampie Mastriet, Tony Jantjies, Rudi Paige, Jono Ross, Jacques du Plessis, Deon Stegmann (capt), Grant Hattingh, Paul Willemse, Marcel van der Merwe, Bongi Mbonambi, Dean Greyling.

Replacements: Bandise Maku, Werner Kruger, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Wiaan Liebenburg, Piet van Zyl, Joshua Stander, Ulrich Beyers