Ludeke shakes up his Bulls
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:49
New breed of Bull: No.8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze
Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has recalled regular No.8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, as he looks to get his team back on the winning track in the 2010 Currie Cup.
The recall of Van Velze to the starting line-up is one of several changes to the side that will face the table-topping Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday.
Van Velze, who scored a try in the earlier clash between the sides in Durban, is fit again after a leg injury ruled him out of last weekend's loss to the Pumas.
Former Bok ace Jaco van der Westhuyzen has been named on the wing, Jacques-Louis Potgieter is back at flyhalf, Ruan Snyman will start at No.9 and Fudge Mabeta is back at lock in the four changes to the starting team that suffered the disappointing 21-22 loss in Nelspruit.
Stefan Watermeyer is back after being rested against the Pumas and will start off the bench along with stalwart prop, Jaco Engels - another player who did not travel to Nelspruit.
CJ Stander, Wilhelm Steenkamp and Dustin Jinka all drop down to the bench, with Hayden Groepes dropping out of the matchday 22 altogether.
In announcing the team, Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke admitted the importance of Saturday's clash.
"The Sharks have their tails up and deserve to be on top of the log at the moment," Ludeke said.
"We cannot afford to drop a home game and it is time for us to force our authority on the competition.
"Last weekend was very disappointing, but we get an opportunity to rectify that this weekend."
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün (captain), 5 Fudge Mabeta, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bantjes, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Jaco
Engels, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Dustin Jinka, 22 Stefan Watermeyer.
Date: Saturday, September 4
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker, Johan Greeff
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
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