Touring Bulls leave big guns back home in the Kraal
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has announced a strong 28-men touring squad that will travel to the United Kingdom and France.
The men from Pretoria will play back-to-back United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup games on tour.
They will first take on Ulster in Round 16 of the URC at the Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast.
The following week, the South African outfit will travel to France to take on Stade Toulousain in the Round 16 of the Champions Cup.
The knock-out clash is at Le Stadium in Toulouse.
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“We are playing in multiple competitions and it becomes important for us to balance our sides,” White said of having teams featuring in Europe – Champions Cup and URC – as well as in South Africa in the Currie Cup.
“Both the team travelling and the one remaining to focus on the Currie Cup campaign – we believe – has the best possible chance at getting the results we want,” the Bulls’ boss said.
“We have also left behind some experienced players – like Lizo Gqoboka, Jacques du Plessis, Mihlali Mosi and Sibusiso Nkosi, who need more game time.
“They also have the wisdom to flank the youngsters when they travel to Bloemfontein [to face the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup Round Three outing].
“This is important because we want to do well in that competition as much as it is our ambition to do well in Europe.”
Bulls tour squad
Forwards: 1 Bismarck Du Plessis, 2 Cyle Brink, 3 Dylan Smith, 4 Elrigh Louw, 5 Francois Klopper, 6 Gerard Steenekamp, 7 Janko Swanepoel, 8 Johann Grobbelaar, 9 Marco van Staden, 10 Merwe Olivier, 11 Mornay Smith, 12 Ruan Nortje (captain), 13 Ruan Vermaak, 14 Simphiwe Matanzima, 15 Tiaan Lange, 16 WJ Steenkamp.
Backs: 1 Canan Moodie, 2 Chris Smith, 3 Cornal Hendricks, 4 David Kriel, 5 Embrose Papier, 6 Harold Vorster, 7 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 8 Morné Steyn, 9 Niel Le Roux, 10 Sibongile Novuka, 11 Stedman Gans, 12 Izak Burger.
MANAGEMENT for tour squad:
Jake White – Director of Rugby
Nollis Marais – Breakdown
Russell Winter – Forwards
Chris Rossouw – Backs
Werner Kruger – Scrum Coach
Pine Pienaar – Defense Coach
Andre Volsteedt – Strength & Conditioning
John-William Meyer – Technical Analyst
Herman Rossouw – Team Doctor
Lance Lemmetjies – Senior Physiotherapist
Kyle Meyer – Physiotherapist
Elias Bennett – Team Manager
Simon Dyidi – Logistics Manager
