Currie Cup Premier Division: Bulls 56-33 Griquas – As it happened

Bulls vs Griquas: The hosts will be eager to move back to the top of the Currie Cup Premier Division while the men from Kimberley hunt another big scalp.

Bulls vs Griquas – Live Scores

Match Preview

The Bulls return to Fortress Loftus for an equally tricky game against Griquas. These two teams currently occupy second and third on the log respectively and victory will go a long way in ensuring they remain in the hunt for home ground advantage in the semi-finals.

Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has made a handful of the changes to the team that went down to the Sharks on Friday. 

Botha is one of two changes to the forwards, replacing Muller Uys at blindside flank. Gerhard Steenekamp’s inclusion in the front row, where he takes supplants Lizo Gqoboka at loosehead prop, is the only other change to the pack. 

Another capped Springbok in Lionel Mapoe makes a return to the side. Mapoe will feature at outside centre, alongside promising young midfielder Harold Vorster, while Cornal Hendricks makes a shift to the right wing. Returning Blitzbok Kurt-Lee Arendse will add fire power on the other wing as he replaces fellow Sevens maven Stedman Gans, who will provide cover from the bench for the outside backs.

“We are on the back of a disappointing result against a strong Cell C Sharks side, and now we will face an equally committed and dangerous Tafel Lager Griquas team. The side from Kimberley has proven that they are a strong competitor in this Carling Currie Cup competition,” White said ahead of the game.

“It’s a short turnaround time for us, and we have had a few areas we have had to work on in the past few days to ensure that we can be competitive and bounce back this week. We do hope that the changes we have made will yield positive results, and that we can be able to play our best rugby again on Wednesday.”

Bulls vs Griquas – Teams and Match information

Bulls

15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Substitutes: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jacques du Plessis, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stedman Gans

Griquas

15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Luyolo Dapula, 6 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Stefan Willemse, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Mox Mxoli

Substitutes (from): 16 Janco Uys, 17 Andrew Kuhn, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Gideon van der Merwe, 21 Raegan Oranje, 22 Andre Swarts, 23 Ederies Arendse, 24 Andrew Beerwinkel, 25 Johan Momsen, 26 Theo Boshoff

Bulls vs Griquas

Date: Wednesday, 11 August

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 16:45

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant Referees: Local appointments

Television Match Official: Egon Seconds

TV: SuperSport