Bulls bank on experience
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named an experienced team for Friday’s opening match of the Currie Cup against the Free State in Bloemfontein.
No.8 Hanro Liebenberg leads the side that will include only one Currie Cup debutant, lock Ruan Nortje, in the run-on side at Toyota Park.
Flank Thembelani Bholi will make his Blue Bulls debut in the competition, and so will Theo Maree and Earll Dowrie if they take to the field off the bench.
Liebenberg said the squad are keen to start on a winning note. “We have the ability, no doubt, so the challenge will be to make sure we play according to that.
“There are some really good players in both teams and I think we are in for a great game. That is exactly what we want as a group, to be tested against the best out there,”
Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Matthys Basson.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Hendre Stassen, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Earll Douwrie.
Date: Friday, August 17
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe
