Bulls believe they have the 'balance' right
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: An exciting Bulls side will take on the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
Bulls’ Currie Cup coach Gert Smal has selected a team with a balance of youth and experience.
The team shows 11 changes from that which demolished Western Province 40-21 in Cape Town a fortnight ago.
It will see the centre pairing of Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans in the backline, while wing Stravino Jacobs makes a return to the starting XV.
Teenage flank Cameron Hanekom will earn a starting berth at blindside – where he will partner up with WJ Steenkamp on the openside and Muller Uys at No.8.
The Bulls will unleash a solid starting front row that includes Gerhard Steenekamp at loosehead prop, Robert Hunt on the other side of the scrum and Schalk Erasmus starting in the No.2 jumper.
“The team had a week’s break after the opening two matches of the Currie Cup season where we have had an opportunity to work on areas that we felt we needed to improve and those we felt we could further enhance where we thought we did well in the matches against the Pumas and Western Province,” said Smal.
“We now have the tough task of facing a dangerous Cheetahs team whom we know will give us a good challenge.
“We expect the side from Bloemfontein to come to Loftus Versfeld highly motivated, and they will give us both a physical and running game on Wednesday.”
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks (captain), 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Cameron Hanekom, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Reinhardt Ludwig, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Frederik du Plessis, 23 Richard Kriel.
Date: Wednesday, February 2
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.45 (15.45 GMT)
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs & local referee
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen.
