Liebenberg leads Vodacom Blue Bulls against DHL Western Province

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Former Junior Springboks captain and no8, Hanro Liebenberg, will lead the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Cape Town on Friday when they take on DHL Western Province in the opening match of the Currie Cup Qualifying series.

Only a couple of players in the squad named by coach Hendré Marnitz have played at this level.

The likes of Callie Visagie, Deon Stegmann and Luther Obi will provide experience though.

“Yes, we are a young team with not much experience, but there is massive potential and ability,” Marnitz said.

“It is a tough start, away from home against a team that performed very well in the competition in recent years, so we will be asked tough questions. I am confident that we will be very competitive,” Marnitz said.

Liebenberg echoed the sentiment.

“If you are good enough, you are old enough. This is a group of able and willing players. They all can play the game at a high level and is keen and proud to represent the Blue Bulls. We will give our best.”

Labuschagne to miss Vodacom Super Rugby opening rounds

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Vodacom Bulls loose forward Lappies Labuschagne has been ruled out of Vodacom Super Rugby action for eight (8) weeks due to an ankle injury, the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed on Thursday.

Labuschagne and Vodacom Bulls team doctor, Dr Herman Rossouw met with specialists today where it was confirmed that the stalwart flanker has to undergo surgery.

“After weighing up all the facts and opinions of various specialists, we came to this decision that Lappies will be operated on Monday,” Dr Rossouw said.

He also confirmed that prop Lizo Gqoboka had to be withdrawn from the Vodacom Bulls team to play the Emirates Lions this weekend due to a groin injury and that he will not be traveling with the team to Polokwane this weekend.

“Lizo had some discomfort and we decided that it will be best to withdraw him from the weekend’s match.”

He will be fit for selection when the Vodacom Super Rugby kicks off later this month, Dr Rossouw confirmed.

Kriel and Serfontein to combine in Polokwane

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Springbok midfielders Jesse Kriel and Jan Serfontein will combine for the first time as a centre pairing on Saturday when the Vodacom Bulls play the Emirates Lions in a Vodacom Super Rugby warm-up match in Polokwane.

Kriel played at fullback in his 16 appearances for the Vodacom Bulls so far, but made the Springbok outside centre berth his own later in the 2015 season, while Serfontein had injury issues during last year’s campaign and only played in eight matches.

The youthful combination will play as the midfield paring for the first time, with Vodacom Bulls coach Nollis Marais naming a number of young players in his match day squad.

The likes of Warrick Gelant, Hanro Liebenberg and RG Snyman all played for the Junior Springboks last year, as did Jason Jenkins, who will play off the bench.

Adriaan Strauss will lead the team for the first time since being named captain for the season.

“We do have a good mixture of youth and experience and that is exactly how I prefer it,” Marais said.

“You need some old heads in this competition, but there is no doubt that younger players brings energy and passion to any team. We would like to find the perfect balance in that and that is why this match in Polokwane is important for us. We need to settle on a team, but also on the right combinations going into the Super Rugby competition,” Marais said.

Strauss is the most experienced player in the squad with 118 Super Rugby caps and admits some nervous energy.

“We are keen to make a mark this year and have some very talented players in our system. I am very keen to lead these guys into battle. The Lions are a very experienced and well-drilled team and will test us structures and systems, so this is an ideal way to prepare before the competition kicks off in a couple of weeks. We are also keen to return to Polokwane, where the locals have been fantastic to us in recent visits,” Strauss said.

“The fact that the match will aid a good cause and supply bursaries to students is also satisfying for the squad,” he said.

The squad that will travel to Polokwane is: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Bjorn Basson, FrancoisBrummer, Rudy Paige, Arno Botha, Hanro Liebenberg, Nic de Jager, Grant Hattingh, RG Snyman, Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss (c), Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, LizoGqoboka, Jason Jenkins, Jannes Kirsten, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, BurgerOdendaal, Werner Kruger, Pierre Schoeman, Jamba Ulengo, Jade Stighling.

Adriaan Strauss to lead Vodacom Bulls in 2016

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Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss has been named as captain of the Vodacom Bulls for the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby season, the team annnounced on Monday. Another international star, Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard, will be vice-captain for the season.

Strauss, a Super Rugby centurion (118 appearances) is no stranger to a leadership role at this level, having captained the Toyota Cheetahs for a number of seasons and according to the Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby coach, Nollis Marais, is a perfect fit for his team.

“Adriaan ticks all the boxes. He has vast experience at Super Rugby level, has played 54 tests for the Springboks, where he is part of the leadership group and represents what we stand for as Bulls. His leadership style is great, as is his ability to rally players around him. He is also one of the top hookers in world rugby and even opponents will look up to his presence on the field,” Marais explained.

“It is also very important for a coach to have a good working relationship with his captain and Adriaan and myselfshare a number of values, with the most important our shared vision to build a special team and leave a legacy,” Marais said.

Pollard is no stranger to captaincy having lead the Junior Sprinboks in 2014 and Marais is confident that the playmaker and goal kicker will not be burdened by this extra responsibility.

“Handré is a natural leader of men and one that leads from the front. He is young in age, but already very experienced on the rugby field. He is also part of the new generation that is coming through at Loftus Versfeld and around we will be building the next generation of stars. Both Adriaan and Handré has the potential to captain the Springboks, so we can be very proud and humble about the fact that their leadership will be available to the Vodacom Bulls.”

Strauss said he was humbled when asked to lead the team.

“There were some brilliant captains in the past and I was lucky to be part of a special generation of Bulls players that won this competition in my early years. I have learned vaulable lessons about the team culture and when I returned last year, was very happy to see the work ethic and drive to be the best did not change. There are exciting times ahead for this group and I am very keen to be part of it. We want to be a team that makes a difference to our fans,” Strauss said.

Matfield returns at lock and captain for Vodacom Bulls

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Rugby - 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby - Bulls v Hurricanes - Loftus Versfeld

 

The most capped South African Vodacom Super Rugby player ever, Victor Matfield, is back at the helm of the Vodacom Bulls when they take on the Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Matfield, who last captained the Vodacom Bulls in the opening round of the competition, will return at lock following successful knee surgery that kept him out of action for a month to play in his 145th match, replacing Grant Hattingh who drops to the bench.

Also back in the match XV that shows five changes to the run-on side that took the field at DHL Newlands last weekend, is Jan Serfontein, Arno Botha, Lappies Labuschagne and Trevor Nyakane.
Serfontein is back following a late withdrawal from the DHL Stormers match, whilst Botha, Labuschagne and Nyakane are all promoted off the bench into the starting team.

The Springbok midfielder replaces Burger Odendaal, who drops to the bench in place of Akona Ndungane, whilst Botha swops places with Pierre Spies at the back of the scrum. Nyakane starts in place of Dean Greyling.
Labuschagne replaces Deon Stegmann, who is rested after 10 consecutive starts.
Prop Andrew Beerwinkel could also make his debut as he is named on the bench.

“We are getting into the rhythm to play the type of match we want to play,” Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said when he announced the team in Pretoria on Thursday.
“Our defence structure is good and we are very competitive in every match we play. We need to tweak some aspects of our game though, but I am confident that we are creating a style of play that will make us contenders in the play-off stages of the competition. All said, we need to show up against the Emirates Lions, who have shown their endurance and determination week after week.”

Matfield, who will captain the side for a South African and franchise record 84 times, pointed to the experience of his team.

“We are facing a team who expresses their personality on the field, but we are also a squad that are proud of being the most successful local franchise ever. You are only as good as your last match though and we came up short then. We need a solid performance before we go on tour, so a win is pretty much non-negotiable.”

Vodacom Bulls Fitness Report – presented by Medihelp

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Rugby - 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby - Bulls v Stormers - Loftus Versfeld

Springboks back for Bulls

Incumbent Springboks Adriaan Strauss, Jan Serfontein and Handré Pollard is fit again and will be considered for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Cell C Sharks in Durban.

According to Vodacom Bulls team doctor Org Strauss, all three are ready to travel to the East Coast, along with Lappies Labuschagne, who recovered from his shoulder injury that kept him out of action for the matches against the Crusaders, Lions and Reds.

Strauss was rested against the Reds per SARU agreement, while Serfontein last played against the Force and Pollard against the Crusaders.

A number of players, Jacques-Louis Potgieter (hamstring), Marcel van der Merwe (ankle), Burger Odendaal (contusion), Bjorn Basson (ankle) and Morné Mellett (back spasm) did not train on Monday, but will be back on Tuesday, Strauss confirmed. Akona Ndungane has also recovered from a broken hand.

Victor Matfield (knee, two to three weeks), Travis Ismaiel (ribs, 20 April) and William Small-Smith (foot, 20 April) will return before month’s end.

Pierre Schoeman, Bandise Maku, Carlo Engelbrecht, Werner Kruger, Duncan Matthews, Ruan Steenkamp and Ryan Nell are all still on the long-term injury list.

New starting props for Vodacom Bulls

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Rugby - 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby - Bulls v Sharks - Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Marcel van der Merwe and Dean Greyling will earn first starts in the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby competition as Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made three changes to his pack that will face the Western Force at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Van der Merwe and Greyling, who both made late starts to the competition due to injury, will swop places with Trevor Nyakane and Mornè Mellett respectively. In other swop, Grant Hattingh will earn his first start of the season and Victor Matfield will move to the bench.

The bench also have two new faces this week, with Arno Botha returning and Jaco Visagie replacing the injured Callie Visagie. Should he take to the field, Visagie will make his Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Super Rugby debut.

Botha, who was injured in the season’s opener against the DHL Stormers, is fit again and replaces Hanro Liebenberg.

Ludeke left his backs unchanged.

“We are good to go after a week’s rest and determined to maintain the momentum the last two wins have created,” Ludeke said. “We have made some changes to the pack, but its part of the rotational policy. All three players deserve a start. We are also happy to see Arno back in full force.”

Vodacom Bulls captain, Pierre Spies, warned that the Force cannot be underestimated, given the closeness of results between the teams in the past.

“We always seem to be in tight matches against each other. The trick for us will be to play the big moments better and to execute whenever we create scoring opportunities.”

The team (with Super Rugby caps) is: Jesse Kriel (5), Francois Hougaard (76), JJ Engelbrecht (53), Jan Serfontein (32), Bjorn Basson (75), Handrè Pollard (17), Rudy Paige (11), Pierre Spies (c, 107), Lappies Labuschagne (31), Deon Stegmann (83), Grant Hattingh (38), Jacques du Plessis (19), Marcel van der Merwe (21), Adriaan Strauss (109), Dean Greyling (57).Replacements: Jaco Visagie (0), Mornè Mellett (28), Trevor Nyakane (46), Victor Matfield (142), Arno Botha (23), Piet van Zyl (47), Tian Schoeman (1), Jurgen Visser (27).

Milestones:

  • There are three centurions in the match day squad. Victor Matfield 142 (Bulls 134 & Cats 8); Adriaan Strauss 109 (Cheetahs 97, Bulls 12) and Pierre Spies 107 (all Bulls)
  • Coach Frans Ludeke will extend his Vodacom Super Rugby as most experienced coach ever – He has coached the Vodacom Bulls in 113 matches and the Cats in 24 for a tally of 137.
  • Victor Matfield will extend his SA record as most capped Super Rugby player to 143 and his Vodacom Bulls record to 135. It also is his 16th season of Vodacom Super Rugby, a record he shares with Tony Brown and Tana Umaga.

Opta Facts

  • In the regular season, the Bulls have won their last 15 at home to Australian sides, last losing in February 2007; however that defeat was inflicted by the Force.
  • The Bulls have the best ruck success rate this year (96%) in the competition.

 

 

New loose trio for Vodacom Blue Bulls

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Rugby - 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby - Bulls v Stormers - Loftus Versfeld

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais made changes to his loose trio for Friday’s Vodacom Cup clash against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.

Marais opted for Chris Massyn to replace the injured Roelof Smit and in a straight swop with the Vodacom Bulls gained Hanro Liebenberg in place of Arno Botha, who was called into Vodacom Super Rugby action.

The undefeated Blue Bulls face another side that is unbeaten and according to Marais, even greater intensity is going to be needed.

“We are playing well, but will have to improve in all areas if we want to beat the Golden Lions on their home turf. That said, I believe we are a competitive team and will give good account of ourselves.”

The Vodacom Blue Bulls team is: Ganfried May, Travis Ismaiel, Marquit September, Warrick Gelant, Jamba Ulengo, Kobus Marais, Ivan van Zyl, Jacques Engelbrecht, Hanro Liebenberg, Chris Massyn, Marvin Orie (c), RG Snyman, Basil Short, Arno van Wyk, Hencus van Wyk. Replacements: Jan-Henning Campher, Du Toit Genis, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Nardus van der Walt, Kefentse Mahlo, Kurt Webster, Jade Stighling.

Match details:

Friday, 20 March

Xerox Golden Lions v Vodacom Blue Bulls

Kick-off: 15h00

Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

Referee: Quinton Immelman

Vodacom Bulls Fitness Report – presented by Medihelp

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JRF_6626
Visagie, Ndungane to miss Force clash

Vodacom Bulls hooker Callie Visagie and wing Akona Ndungane has been ruled of out action for this weekend’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Western Force at Loftus Versfeld, it was confirmed on Monday.

Ndungane has in fact been ruled out for a month after he broke his hand, while Visagie will miss the clash against the Perth side due to a chest injury.

Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who missed the last match against the Toyota Cheetahs due to a hamstring strain, will train on Tuesday and should be fit to be considered for the weekend.

Vodacom Blue Bulls flanker Roelof Smit meanwhile injured his ankle against the Leopards XV and will be out of action for between one and two weeks.

 




 

AFGRI sponsors Blue Bulls rugby

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Vodacom Blue Bulls - AFGRI Jersey Handover

AFGRI, the leading South African agricultural services and diversified foods group, announced on 29 January 2014 their active participation in the sponsorship of Blue Bulls rugby in South Africa.

Chris Venter, CEO of AFGRI, said at an official Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd press conference today that AFGRI is pleased to be associated with a winning culture.

Blue Bulls CEO Barend van Graan is pleased to welcome AFGRI on board

“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the AFGRI team to the Vodacom Bulls family. We look forward to working with you both on the field and off as we strive to grow and improve the game on a professional level as well as community development level by creating opportunities for young rugby players.”

AFGRI draws its history in South Africa back 90 years and so too the Blue Bulls are no strangers to transformation, tenacity and a fighting spirit. The Blue Bulls hold no less than 23 ABSA Currie Cup titles in South Africa and three titles in the Super Rugby competition which has been in place since 1996. This approach to winning appeals to AFGRI since the sponsorship will also contribute towards sport, player and community development some of AFGRI’s areas of operation.