Combrinck becomes #TrueToTheBlue

In an exciting acquisition, the Vodacom Bulls have landed the services of Springbok winger, Ruan Combrinck, who will arrive at Loftus Versfeld on July 1.

The 31-year-old speedster comes with a reputation of having a nous for scoring tries for the Springboks in the 7 Test matches he featured in, the Xerox Golden Lions and Emirates Lions, as well as French club, Stade Francais.

Combrinck’s arrival will not only add depth to the outside backs, but his experience since making his professional debut for Western Province in 2010 will be invaluable for the Tshwane side.

“Any team will be fortunate to acquire a gem like Ruan, who has proven his outstanding abilities over the years. His signing will add to the depth of this team, and we have no doubts that his on-field, as well as his off-field capabilities, will contribute to the Vodacom Bulls reaching greater heights,” said Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White.

Vodacom Bulls confirm that Nizaam Carr will be leaving

The Vodacom Bulls confirms that Nizaam Carr will be leaving Loftus at the end of July and heading back to his former club in England, Wasps RFC.

“Dear Nemo… Thanks for putting in the hard yards. Thanks for the big hits and intense work rate… thanks for being an amazing part of our leadership group and thanks for the laughs and tears we shared… but most importantly, thanks for being #TrueToTheBlue”

Vodacom Bulls beef up for New Nation Pumas battle

Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, will once again take the reins for the Carling Currie Cup clash against the New Nation Pumas, following his return from Italy.

Simphiwe Matanzima is the only player in this weekend’s match-23 that played in last weekend’s Currie Cup match against DHL Western Province, with the bulk of the squad now expectedly being made up of the players that represented in the Rainbow Cup final last weekend.

Hooker Schalk Erasmus will be propped up in the front row by Springbok Lizo Gqoboka and Mornay Smith, with Walt Steenkamp and Janko Swanepoel adding their weight to the tight five. Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar will get a well-deserved break this weekend after putting in weeks on the trot in the Rainbow Cup.

The Loose trio remains unchanged from the one that did battle in Italy a week ago, with Marcell Coetzee once again leading the boys in blue from the back of the scrum. Nizaam Carr and Ruan Nortje will don the number six and seven jerseys respectively, and will no doubt bring the intense work rate that we have come to expect from them.

Ivan van Zyl and Chris Smith will continue their half-back pairing. While Cornal Hendricks gets a new mid-field partner in Harold Voster. Voster will be making his Vodacom Bulls debut this weekend after racking up a host of caps for the Lions between 2014 and 2019. His last stint before joining the Vodacom Bulls was in Japan for the Panasonic Wild Knights.

Madosh Thambwe and Stravino Jacobs will once again be patrolling the wings, with Gio Aplon returning in the number 15 jersey. The 38-year-old Aplon has fully recovered from a knee injury and is looking as sensational as he always has.

White, is excited about the weekend ahead, “the young and inexperienced group fought hard last weekend against a quality Province team, and even though the result didn’t go our way they still managed to secure a bonus point. This weekend is a big game for us, and we will be looking to get back to winning ways. The Pumas are coming off the back of a good win and they will be looking to hurt us, but we know what is expected of us.”

The game kicks off at 19h00 this evening and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

 *STARTERS:*

  • Gio Aplon (Betway Centurion)
  • Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria)
  • Harold Voster (Northam)
  • Cornal Hendricks (Northam)
  • Stravino Jacobs (Harlequins)
  • Chris Smith (Harlequins)
  • Ivan van Zyl (Tuine)
  • Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle – C)
  • Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
  • Nizaam Carr (Betway Centurion)
  • Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria)
  • Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion)
  • Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion)
  • Schalk Erasmus (Tuine)
  • Lizo Gqoboka (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

*IMPACT:*

  • Sidney Tobias  (Northam)
  • Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
  • Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine)
  • Muller Uys (FNB Tuks)
  • WJ Steenkamp (Tuine)
  • Zak Burger (Tuine)
  • FC du Plessis (Betway Centurion)
  • David Kriel (Betway Centurion)
  • Robert Hunt (Harlequins)
  • Ruan Delport (u20)
  • Jaco Labuschagne (Pretoria)
  • Keagan Johannes (FNB Tuks)
  • Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria)

 

 

Jake pays tribute to the ’95 Boks

Today, 24 June, marks the 26th anniversary of the Springboks lifting the IRB World Cup trophy at Ellis Park in 1995. The world watched in awe as Kitch Christie and his heroic squad defeated an amazing All Blacks team in one of the most memorable rugby matches in our history.

Director of Rugby at the Vodacom Bulls, Jake White, today paid tribute to the heroes in that squad, “I was at the stadium that day, and can clearly remember how intense the atmosphere was. Ellis Park was packed to the rafters and the crowd was really into it. They got behind the Boks at every opportunity, and when Francois lifted that cup it was truly deafening.”

“Not only was the side packed with amazing talent, but they also had one of the most inspirational coaches in Kitch Christie. Kitch was my mentor and has had an unbelievable impact on me as a coach and personally. Here at Loftus, we pride ourselves on heritage and history, so we mustn’t forget just how big of an impact that game and Kitch has had on our rugby today.”

“There were so many moments in that game that stand out, from Madiba walking onto the field, the massive tackles on Jona Lomu, the Joel drop goal, and just the overall guts shown by the team… but the one that will forever be etched in my memory is watching Kitch being lifted onto the shoulders of the players with the trophy aloft in one hand.”

“From myself and everybody at Loftus, a massive thank you to the ’95 Boks for paving the way forward.”

Swanepoel ‘slots’ in for Vodacom Bulls 

Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White continues to test combinations and positions, with Ruan Nortje shifting to blindside flank opening up space for lock Janko Swanepoel to start in the engine room against the Cell C Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday, 12 June 2021.

Nortje’s move to the side of the scrum is a result of the injury to Elrigh Louw, while Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee takes over the captaincy and no.8 jumper from the injured Duane Vermeulen, with Marco van Staden covering openside flank against their Durban based opposition.

The rest of the starting line-up remains unchanged.

Springbok Nizaam Carr and Junior Springbok Muller Uys have received call ups to take the places of Swanepoel and Van Staden on the bench respectively.

The trip to Durban marks the end of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA regular season, with the Vodacom Bulls going into the game in pole position to contest the North vs South final. The Bulls will be looking to go all out in retaining the top spot, as the Pretoria franchise shifts a gear going into a knockout rugby mindset.

“We have approached this match as if it were a semi-final. Nothing less than a win is good enough. The boys need no further motivation and despite a few injuries, come Saturday we will be focused and determined to execute our plan,” said White.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18h15 with the match being televised live on SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Vodacom Bulls:

  • David Kriel (Betway Centurion)
  • Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria)
  • Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria)
  • Cornal Hendricks (Northam)
  • Stravino Jacobs (Harlequins)
  • Morné Steyn (Tuine)
  • Ivan van Zyl (Tuine)
  • Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle – C)
  • Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
  • Marco van Staden (Pretoria)
  • Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria)
  • Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion)
  • Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion)
  • Johan Grobbelaar (Tukkies)
  • Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

Replacements:

  • Schalk Erasmus (Tuine)
  • Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine)
  • Trevor Nyakane (Harlequins)
  • Nizaam Carr (Betway Centurion)
  • Muller Uys (Tukkies)
  • Keagan Johannes (Tukkies)
  • Clinton Swart (Tukkies)
  • Gio Aplon (Betway Centurion)
  • Robert Hunt (Harlequins)
  • Jan Uys (Pretoria)
  • Dawid Kellerman (Pretoria)
  • Richard Kriel (Tuine)

Match officials:

  • Referee: AJ Jacobs
  • AR1: Jaco Peyper
  • AR2: Griffin Colby
  • TMO: Stuart Berry

Coetzee to start for Vodacom Bulls against the Storm

Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee will earn his first cap for the Vodacom Bulls when they host the DHL Stormers in their Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA clash at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, 4 June 2021.

Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has tweaked the starting line-up with scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl returning from injury to partner flyhalf Morné Steyn, while wing Stravino Jacobs reclaims the no.11 jersey in place of James Verity-Amm.

Besides the inclusion of Coetzee at openside flank, Mornay Smith and Gerhard Steenekamp will prop up the scrum alongside hooker Johan Grobbelaar.

Springbok utility back Gio Aplon has recovered from his ACL injury and will add experience off the bench, with fellow Springboks in prop Trevor Nyakane and flank Marco van Staden set to do the same.

“We’ve welcomed back Gio and Ivan from injury while Marcell gets his first start for us. It’s great having experience of this calibre coming back into our system as we head into the busines end of the tournament,” said White.

“The loss against the Lions put things into perspective as we cannot afford even one slip up in terms of the log. We need to make amends for it and there’s not many things tougher than a classic North-South derby,” he added.

Kick-off is scheduled for 19h00 CAT with the match being televised live on SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Vodacom Bulls:
15. David Kriel (Betway Centurion)
14. Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria)
13. Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria)
12. Cornal Hendricks (Northam)
11. Stravino Jacobs (Harlequins)
10. Morné Steyn (Tuine)
9. Ivan van Zyl (Tuine)
8. Duane Vermeulen (Harlequins, C)
7. Elrigh Louw (Tukkies)
6. Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
5. Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
4. Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion)
3. Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion)
2. Johan Grobbelaar (Tukkies)
1. Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

Replacements:

  1. Schalk Erasmus (Tuine)
  2. Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine)
  3. Trevor Nyakane (Harlequins)
  4. Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria)
  5. Marco van Staden (Pretoria)
  6. Zak Burger (Tuine)
  7. Chris Smith (Harlequins)
  8. Gio Aplon (Betway Centurion)
  9. Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Pretoria)
  10. Muller Uys (Tukkies)
  11. Jan Uys (Pretoria)
  12. James Verity-Amm (Pretoria)
  13. Keagan Johannes (Tukkies)

Match officials:

Referee: Jaco Peyper

AR1: AJ Jacobs

AR2: Aimee Barrett-Theron

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen