De Jager to start first match for Vodacom Bulls

New signing Lood de Jager will make his first appearance for the Vodacom Bulls against the Chiefs in Brisbane on Thursday, after being named in the squad that face the New Zealand team in a Vodacom Super Rugby friendly at the Ballymore Stadium.

De Jager, who moved from the Toyota Cheetahs, will form a lock combination with RG Snyman in a team that will also see the return to Bulls colours for Jacques Potgieter, who won the Super Rugby title with the Waratahs a couple of years back.

Handré Pollard is also taking the field for the first time in more than a year and will lead the side, Jesse Kriel was named at fullback and Trevor Nyakane will start at tighthead in the match against the Chiefs.

“We don’t have much time left in the pre-season, so it will be important for certain combinations to work well in this match,” Vodacom Bulls coach, Nollis Marais, said.

“The Chiefs are a formidable team and this will be an important match to see where we are at this early in the season.”

The squad to take on the Chiefs is: Jesse Kriel, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Handre Pollard (c), Rudy Paige, Hanro Liebenberg, Jacques Potgieter, Nic de Jager, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman. Bench: Edgar Maruthlule, Lizo Gqoboka, Jason Jenkins, Ruan Steenkamp, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Warrick Gelant, John-Roy Jenkinson, Jacobie Adriaanse, Renaldo Bothma, Francois Brummer, JT Jackson.