Get Newsletter

Bulls have a new captain

Liebenberg will hence become the 19th player to lead the Bulls since the inception of the Super Rugby competition.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former Junior Springboks captain missed out on last weekend's defeat against the Crusaders due to a hamstring strain and comes back into the team in place of Renaldo Bothma.

Liebenberg takes over the captain's armband from Adriaan Strauss, who has a foot injury.

Strauss will undergo scans to determine the extent of his injury.

Travis Ismaiel and Jacques Potgieter has also been ruled out from last week's team.

They will be replaced by Jade Stighling and Jannes Kirsten respectively. Kirsten played off the bench last weekend, but it will be a debut for Stighling, who turns 24 later this month.

The wing, who was schooled at Hans Moore High in Benoni, has represented the Blue Bulls at age group level and Currie Cup since 2013, but now gets a first start for the Bulls.

ADVERTISEMENT

Marais made a number of personnel changes to the pack.

Jaco Visagie (for the injured Strauss), Lizo Gqoboka (for Pierre Schoeman), Rudolph Snyman (for Lodewyk de Jager) and a fit-again Ruan Steenkamp (for Nick de Jager) will all start this week.  

Edgar Marutlulle is also back in the matchday 23 to fill the vacancy left by Visagie's promotion, while Coenraad van Vuuren was named as back-up tighthead. He takes over from Jacobie Adriaanse.

Van Vuuren joined the Bulls on tour in New Zealand, but did not play, so could make his debut for the team if he takes to the field.

ADVERTISEMENT

There is also a potential debut for flyhalf Tony Jantjies, who was named on the bench in place of injured Francois Brummer. The 25-year old Jantjies will make his Bulls and Super Rugby debut, should he take to the field.

Coach Nollis Marais said the changes was needed to freshen up his team's effort.

"To lose two Springboks in your pack is never nice and Travis was playing some great rugby as well," Marais said.

"But we have had no luck with injuries, so I have accepted that part of the deal. What I can't accept though are the results we are producing. It does not do justice to the hard work being put in by all. We need to be better at a number of things and I believe we did the necessary adjustments to beat the Highlanders."

Liebenberg was keen for his team to front up against the New Zealand side.

"It is a massive honour to lead this team and what it stands for, but Saturday's effort will not be about me at all," Liebenberg said.

"It will be about the team taking responsibility of our performance out there. The challenge is massive, as the Highlanders are one formidable opponent, but we have to start showing progress and reward for the hard work."

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Coenraad van Vuuren, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Nick de Jager, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Tony Jantjies, 23 Jan Serfontein.

Date: Saturday, May 13

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 15.05 (13.05 GMT; 01.05 NZ time, Sunday, May 14)

Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)

TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)

Bulls have a new captain

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment