Vodacom Bulls look to experience for final

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Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has named a matchday squad jam-packed with experience while keeping consistency in the team’s selection ahead of their Carling Currie Cup final clash against the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 30 January 2021.

The forwards remain relatively unchanged with the only change coming at hooker as Johan Grobbelaar gets the starting nod with Schalk Erasmus providing cover on the bench.

Duane Vermeulen will again lead the team from the back of the scrum alongside his successful loose forward partnership with Elrigh Louw and fellow Springbok Marco van Staden.

Springboks Trevor Nyakane and Lizo Gqoboka prop up a strong Vodacom Bulls’ scrum while adding firepower in loose play.

The backs are unchanged as Marco Jansen van Vuren continues in his role at outside centre after a successful outing against the Xerox Lions as a late injury replacement for Blitzbok Stedman Gans.

Morné Steyn’s experience will contribute towards the collective strength of this team as he continues to rack up points with his boot while unleashing a backline that carries a massive punch, spearheaded by Springbok Cornal Hendricks and Blitzbok Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Former schoolboy sensation Stravino Jacobs has excelled under his baptism of fire in his first season as a senior player and will be keen to add to his brace that he scored in the semifinal last weekend.

The replacements have an important job in providing fresh legs and this weekend’s match will prove the ultimate test with stalwarts such as Jacques van Rooyen and Arno Botha standing by to inflict as much damage as possible while Springbok Embrose Papier and Chris Smith will be primed to open up the match in the latter stages.

“We have secured a place in the final but we still have 80 minutes to play. There are no second chances in playoff rugby and our opponents are just as eager to lift this coveted trophy. Our job is to prevent this from happening and ensuring that the Carling Currie Cup returns to Loftus Versfeld,” said White.

Kick-off is 15:00 and will be televised live on the SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Duane Vermeulen (C), 7. Elrigh Louw, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Sintu Manjezi, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Jan Uys, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Marnus Potgieter, 24. Nizaam Carr, 25. Gerhard Steenekamp, 26. Keagan Johannes, 27. Jade Stighling.

Vodacom Bulls return to full strength for Xerox Lions semi-final

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Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has named a full-strength matchday squad that will face the Xerox Lions in their Carling Currie Cup semi-final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 23 January 2021.

Stravino Jacobs retains his spot on the left wing as a revamped backline sees the return of David Kriel (fullback) while Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans resume their successful partnership in the midfield.

Kurt-Lee Arendse is set to continue his attacking form on the right wing while Ivan van Zyl and Morné Steyn continue with their halfback pairing as the latter celebrates a ton of provincial matches for the Vodacom Bulls.

Steyn’s contributions to the Vodacom Bulls at the provincial level has been one of dedication and loyalty with all his appearances having been in the light blue jersey.

His 76 Carling Currie Cup caps alongside 18 Vodacom Cup appearances coupled with five sanctioned friendlies is testament to not only his immense talent but also his professionalism.

Amongst the forwards, Duane Vermeulen resumes the captaincy and will man the back of the scrum alongside Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden as blindside and openside flank respectively.

Sintu Manjezi has been named at no.4 lock while his partner Ruan Nortje continues in his role as lineout coordinator in the no.5 jumper.

The young yet incredibly talented Schalk Erasmus will have the confidence knowing that his role at hooker will be aided by two Springbok props in Lizo Gqoboka and Trevor Nyakane.

The bench is littered with players who have given their all when called upon and this weekend’s finishers are no different with Arno Botha, Jacques van Rooyen, Embrose Papier and Chris Smith set to provide vitally important fresh legs in a crucial match.

“We have reached the business end of the Carling Currie Cup and I must commend our entire squad on getting us to this point. Every player in our ranks has contributed to our cause with enthusiasm and a never say die attitude,” said White.

“Focusing on this weekend has been in our minds for the last two weeks and we have done all we can in terms of preparation. We know how to win and we have to just that against a team that has pushed us each time we’ve played them,” he added.

Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Duane Vermeulen (C), 7. Elrigh Louw, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Sintu Manjezi, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Schalk Erasmus, 1. Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Jan Uys, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Marco Jansen van Vuren.

Vodacom Bulls announce extended squad for Xerox Lions encounter

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Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has named an extended squad in preparation for the Carling Currie Cup clash against the Xerox Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday, 6 January 2021.

The larger than normal group is mainly due to the fact that the team is still awaiting a few Covid19 test results.

The final match day squad will be trimmed and finalised as soon as possible.

“It’s been an interesting and challenging season to say the least, with the past two weeks probably being our most testing yet. We haven’t had a lot of time together following the isolation protocols, which doesn’t make it ideal going into a crunch game like this one,” White explained.

“Having said that, we’re just excited to be able to play again and get our campaign back on track.”

Kick-off is 16:00 and will be televised live on the Super Sport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Vodacom Bulls extended match day squad: Lizo Gqoboka, Schalk Erasmus, Trevor Nyakane, Jan Uys, Ruan Nortje, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Embrose Papier, Chris Smith, Stravino Jacobs, Cornal Hendricks, Marnus Potgieter, Jay-Cee Nel, David Kriel, Johan Grobbelaar, Jacques van Rooyen, Marcel van der Merwe, Walt Steenkamp, Arno Botha, Tim Agaba, Ivan van Zyl, Morne Steyn, Keagan Johannes, David Kellerman, Jade Stighling, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Joe van Zyl.