Libbok back at pivot for Vodacom Blue Bulls

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Flyhalf Manie Libbok will start at flyhalf for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday when they take on Tafel Lager Griquas in round four of the Currie Cup, sponsored by Direct Axis Financial Services.

Libbok played off the bench last weekend in Nelspruit, where the Vodacom Blue Bulls edged Phakisa Pumas to claim their first win of the competition and coach Pote Human kept faith in those returning victorious from the Mbombela Stadium. Libbok swops jerseys with Marnitz Boshoff, who will finish the game while Stedman Gans is the only new face in the match day squad.

Gans has been fully integrated since his return from the Blitzboks last month and will play off the bench against the Kimberley side, the same team he made his debut against two seasons ago. He comes in for Jade Stighling. Human said it was easy to reward the Nelspruit victors.

“That was a hard-fought win for us over a much respected opponent at a venue where we battled in the past, so it was the right thing to reward the team who claimed that victory. The swop between Marnitz and Manie is purely tactical as we approach this match against Tafel Lager Griquas slightly different,” Human said.

“Also, it is nice to have Stedman back in the mix and I am keen to see him showing us what he is capable of. Jade did nothing wrong, but with Stedman in, we have a bit more flexibility in the back-line,” Human explained.

The coach held the reins in Kimberley before and warned his players to prepare for an onslaught.

“They will come at us hard, no doubt. They will be smarting after their defeat last weekend and probably have the most momentum of all teams in the competition.”

Ruan Steenkamp, who will lead the team into battle, said they are looking forward to play at home again.

“Our last outing at home did not go well, unfortunately, so we are keen to redeem ourselves. We must perform and I believe we can do so if we stick to our plan and approach and take the game to them. If we play at our pace and on our terms, we will be hard to beat.”

 The team is: 

  1. Divan Rossouw
  2. Cornal Hendricks
  3. Dylan Sage
  4. Johnny Kotze
  5. Rosko Specman
  6. Manie Libbok
  7. Embrose Papier
  8. Tim Agaba
  9. Marco van Staden
  10. Ruan Steenkamp (c)
  11. Ruan Nortje
  12. Andries Ferreira
  13. Wiehahn Herbst
  14. Jaco Visagie
  15. Simphiwe Matanzima

Replacements:

  1. Johan Grobbelaar
  2. Dayan van der Westhuizen
  3. Conraad van Vuuren
  4. Adri Smit
  5. Wihan Vosloo
  6. Andre Warner
  7. Marnitz Boshoff
  8. Stedman Gans

 

Boshoff to start in Nelspruit

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Marnitz Boshoff will start at flyhalf for the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Friday when they take on Phakisa Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Round Three of the Currie Cup, sponsored by Direct Axis Financial Services.

The Nelspruit-born player replaces Manie Libbok as pivot as Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, made two changes to the side that lost out to the Toyota Free State Cheetahs last weekend, with Marco van Staden the other change at flank, where he takes over from Roelof Smit.

Ruan Steenkamp will again lead the side after taking over from Burger Odendaal, who pulled out of last weekend’s match shortly before kick-off.

Odendaal pulled out due to a leg injury and his replacement then, Dylan Sage, will wear the number 12 jersey.

Human made a number of changes to his bench as well, with Libbok dropping into an impact-player role this time around. Andre Warner will also get his first run in the competition off the bench, having replaced Ivan van Zyl.

Loose forward Wihan Vosloo is fit again and will play off the bench. Vosloo made his Vodacom Blue Bulls debut in Cape Town three weeks ago, but was injured early in the game and will be keen to add his effort when called upon.

“We are in trouble with no wins after two rounds and so are the Pumas. They were unlucky in both their losses as they were pipped at the end, while we were outplayed in both our defeats and given that the match is on their home turf, they must be favourites,” Human said.

“I know it is very early in the competition, but the reality is that another defeat could be a killer-blow for our chances to win the Currie Cup in 2019. We need to play with the urgency brought about by that reality and make sure we get our campaign back on track.”

Steenkamp said they will have to show they are capable to go all the way.

“It is almost like the slogan for the tournament, it is effort re-loaded for us. We need a strong showing and we need a win. We are going into a venue where the Pumas have beaten us in the past, so they will come at us. We are all playing for the Vodacom Blue Bulls to show that we are the best team in the competition and that starts on Friday.”

The team is:

Divan Rossouw, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Dylan Sage, Rosko Specman, Marnitz Boshoff, Embrose Papier, Tim Agaba, Marco van Staden, Ruan Steenkamp (c), Ruan Nortje, Andries Ferreira, Wiehahn Herbst, Jaco Visagie, Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Conraad van Vuuren, Adri Smit, Wihan Vosloo, Andre Warner, Manie Libbok, Jade Stighling.

Herbst, Van Staden boost for Vodacom Blue Bulls

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Wiehahn Herbst will start at prop, and flanker Marco van Staden will play off the bench when the Vodacom Blue Bulls take on the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

Both players will make a first appearance in the Currie Cup, sponsored by Direct Axis Financial Services, for coach Pote Human in round two of the tournament.

Herbst was a late withdrawal and missed the opening match against DHL Western Province last week due to the birth of his child, while Van Staden was part of the Springbok squad preparing for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia and has been released for this clash.

Herbst takes over from Conraad van Vuuren and Van Staden takes the place on the bench of Roelof Smit.

Smit will start the match in place of injured Wian Vosloo.

Lock Andries Ferreira will also make a first start for the Vodacom Blue Bulls against a former province of his, replacing Lood de Jager, who has been recalled to the Springbok squad to face the Wallabies.

Human said the team will have the opportunity to not only redeem themselves following last weekend’s defeat to DHL Western Province, but can do so in front of the Loftus faithful.

“We need to be at our best. The Toyota Free State Cheetahs will be well-rested and have some really good players available. They will be very keen to get their season started. We have to start well, keep playing well and finish well in this one. We created some chances last week, but with some of our phases not functioning as it should have, we never really managed to force dominance. That needs to change this weekend,” said Human.

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain, Burger Odendaal, said the focus will be on themselves, rather than the opponent.

“We spoke about the errors made last weekend and how to make them right. We all agreed on how to do that, so it is now a matter of going out there and execute the type of game we know we can play.”

Kick-off is at 19h15. The referee for the clash is Marius van der Westhuizen.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls team is: Divan Rossouw, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal (c), Rosko Specman, Manie Libbok, Embrose Papier, Tim Agaba, Roelof Smit, Ruan Steenkamp, Andries Ferreira, Ruan Nortje, Wiehahn Herbst, Jaco Visagie, Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Conraad van Vuuren, Jean Droste, Marco van Staden, Ivan van Zyl, Marnitz Boshoff, Dylan Sage.

Lood de Jager to start for Vodacom Blue Bulls

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Lood de Jager will make a welcome return to competitive rugby on Saturday when the Vodacom Blue Bulls take on DHL Western Province in Cape Town in the opening weekend of the Currie Cup, sponsored by DirectAxis Financial Services.

De Jager last played in February before picking up an injury that ruled him out of action for the remainder of the Vodacom Super Rugby competition and his return will boost the chances of coach Pote Human charges in their season’s opener at DHL Newlands.

Human named a squad full of familiar faces following Super Rugby, with flanker Wian Vosloo the only newcomer to the squad.

The 24-year old played for the Cell C Sharks in 2018 and is one of five players making their Currie Cup debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

De Jager, Cornal Hendricks, Rosko Specman and prop Wiehahn Herbst will all play for the team for the first time in the competition.

Jean Droste, who played age group rugby for the Vodacom Blue Bulls before a couple of seasons with the Cell C Sharks, is also back in Pretoria and will play off the bench.

Human said they are expecting a massive match against their Cape Town opponents.

“What a way to start this competition – against Province in Cape Town. It does not come tougher than this,” Human said.

The coach said De Jager’s return to action will be a good boost for their chances.

“Lood played very well before his injury and worked really hard to get back onto the field. I am sure he is ready to give it a good go. We have some form players in the team at the moment, but playing at Newlands against such a formidable team is always a tough start,” Human said.

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain, Burger Odendaal, said they will need to make every opportunity count.

“With only one round in this year’s competition, we need to take every chance that comes our way. I expect this year’s Currie Cup to be very, very competitive and every result will be crucial. We need to start well and keep up the pressure in order to have a chance this weekend,” Odendaal said.

The team is: Divan Rossouw, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal (c), Rosko Specman, Manie Libbok, Embrose Papier, Tim Agaba, Wian Vosloo, Ruan Steenkamp, Lood de Jager, Ruan Nortjie, Wiehahn Herbst, Jaco Visagie, Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Matthys Basson, Conraad van Vuuren, Jean Droste, Roelof Smit, Ivan van Zyl, Marnitz Boshoff, Dylan Sage.

Odendaal to lead Vodacom Blue Bulls in Currie Cup campaign

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Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named Burger Odendaal as captain for the 2019 Currie Cup season and included five Springboks in his squad for the season. Cornal Hendricks, who made a return to rugby in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament, will again play in the country’s premier domestic competition for the first time since 2015, while Human can also call on Embrose Papier, Ivan van Zyl, Marnitz Boshoff and Roelof Smit, who all donned the green and gold.

A number of former Blitzboks will also add to their effort, including Rosko Specman, Dylan Sage and Tim Agaba, while Stedman Gans has also joined up with the squad.

Former Cell C Sharks flanker, Wihan Vosloo, also joined from Durban, while lock Andries Ferreira returns to his old stomping ground at Loftus Versfeld.

Wiehahn Herbst will also debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls, following a long career with the Cell C Sharks and Ulster.

 

The Currie Cup training squad is: 

  • Fullbacks: Divan Rossouw, Earll Douwrie
  • Wings: Cornal Hendricks, Rosko Specman, Jade Stighling.
  • Centres: Burger Odendaal, Dylan Sage, Johnny Kotze, Stedman Gans.
  • Flyhalves: Manie Libbok, Marnitz Boshoff
  • Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier, Ivan van Zyl, Andre Warner.
  • Loose forwards: Tim Agaba, Fred Eksteen, Wihan Vosloo, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Ruan Steenkamp, Eduan Lubbe, Roelof Smit.
  • Locks: Jean Drotste, Andries Ferreira, Ruan Nortje, Adri Smith, Marius Verwey
  • Props: Wiehahn Herbst, Conraad van Vuuren, Madot Mabokela, Simphiwe Matanzima, Matthys Basson, Dayan van der Westhuizen.
  • Hookers: Jaco Visagie, Johan Grobbelaar