Marco Jansen van Vuren of the Bulls scores a try during the Carling Currie Cup match between DHL Western Province and Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands on November 28, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Bulls test backline depth for Cheetahs visit
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has made several changes to his Bulls squad which sees the depth of the backline being tested, with the forwards also sporting a few new faces.
Marco Jansen van Vuren of the Bulls scores a try during the Carling Currie Cup match between DHL Western Province and Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands on November 28, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
The Bulls have named a shuffled side to face the Cheetahs in their Currie Cup match on Saturday.
Kurt-Lee Arendse and David Kriel make positional switches in the back division. Arendse moves to fullback and Kriel takes his place on the right wing with Marco Jansen van Vuren earning his first start on the other wing.
A new halfback pairing
There is a new starting halfback pairing as Morné Steyn returns to flyhalf while Embrose Papier will start as his halfback partner for the first time this season..
In his selections of the forwards, Jake White has also made changes with Sintu Manjezi starting his first match after several appearances off the bench while the front row sees two changes at prop with Marcel van der Merwe and Gerhard Steenekamp getting starts in the engine room.
The bench has also seen some shifting and alterations as well with Jan-Hendrik Wessels on the brink of making his Bulls and Carling Currie Cup debut as a replacement prop. Rugby World Cup-winner Trevor Nyakane and Ruan Nortje will provide cover at prop and lock.
Centre Marnus Potgieter is also set for his competition and team debut, as he rounds out the backline replacements alongside Ivan van Zyl and Chris Smith.
“The Cheetahs are the only team to have beaten us in the last round, so we are truly looking forward to this one. I’m also excited about the changes we have made to our team, and I’m keen to see our new combinations,” said White.
The match between the Bulls and the Cheetahs kicks off at 16:30 on Saturday 5 December at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The Currie Cup match will be broadcast on SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand.
Currie Cup team news – Bulls
Bulls: 15. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14. David Kriel, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Embrose Papier, 8. Duane Vermeulen (c), 7. Arno Botha, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Walt Steenkamp, 4. Sintu Manjezi, 3. Marcel van der Merwe, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16. Corniel Els, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Marnus Potgieter.
Match information – Bulls v Cheetahs – where to watch
Date: Saturday, 5 December 2020
Time: 16:30
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Paul Mente
TMO: Johan Greeff
TV: SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand
Tags:
