Injured Bulls Bok returns home
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have forced into making a change to their team to take on the Brumbies in a Super Rugby Round 15 encounter in Canberra on Friday.
Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard will miss this clash due to a calf strain picked up in training earlier this week.
Pollard will be returning to South Africa for treatment.
His place in the No.10 jersey will be taken by Manie Libbok.
In Pollard’s absence Duane Vermeulen will lead the Bulls.
Human called John Jackson onto the bench in place of the promoted Libbok.
The rest of the match day squad, which played in the win over the Rebels last week, remain unchanged.
Human said Libbok, who started for the Bulls against the Jaguares earlier in the season, has big shoes to fill, but certainly has the ability and skills to help the team achieve a second win on tour.
“He would not be around if he was not good enough, that is for sure,” Human said.
“Handré is probably the leading No.10 in the world at the moment, so to take over from him is not easy, but Manie has done well for us when he took to the field this year and I have the utmost confidence in him this weekend.
“He is an exciting young talent and we are looking forward to watching him grow.”
The Bulls currently sit in first place in the South African conference and second overall in the standings.
They have the same points as the Jaguares – second in SA conference and fourth overall – 32 from 12 games, but have a marginally better points differential – plus 32 against the plus 21 of the Jaguares.
The Vodacom Bulls had their first training session in Canberra.
Preparation is key for the clash on Friday between the two conference leaders.#BullsFamily #BRUvBUL pic.twitter.com/fXtxTZLdAS
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 21, 2019
Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wiehan Herbst, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, John Jackson, Divan Rossouw.
Date: Friday, May 24
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.45 (09.45 GMT, 11.45 South African time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
* Also read – Brumbies team
