Veteran Bok duo finally get Bulls start
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls supporters will finally see new recruits Schalk Brits and Duane Vermeulen in action for the franchise.
The Springbok pair will start for the Bulls in Cape Town on Sunday when they take on Stormers in a Super Rugby friendly, dubbed as #SuperHeroSunday.
The duo, both former Stormers players, will also make a return to the South African franchise landscape following club stints abroad.
Vermeulen will start at No8 alongside Jannes Kirsten and Paul Schoeman, who will also be involved with the Bulls for the first time since joining from the Cheetahs.
Bulls coach Pote Human named eight Springboks in his starting team, while another, Embrose Papier will finish the match to be played in Cape Town Stadium from the bench.
Johnny Kotze, who re-joined the squad following a loan spell with Ospreys in Wales, will also play off the bench in a squad with lot of familiar faces.
Lood de Jager will lead the side for the first time since appointed captain for the season.
Duane Vermeulen in his first official Vodacom Bulls Jersey standing his ground on Loftus.
A sneak peek of the Vodacom Bulls campaign shoot last night
ADVERTISEMENTSee Duane in action, Get your season ticket now at https://t.co/7NhaUvf2iQ and stand a chance to win an Isuzu D-max. pic.twitter.com/yb9R9nUWYc
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 29, 2019
Human feels the match will be an important first step for his side.
“There are new faces in the team, but the likes of Schalk and Duane are so experienced that they slotted in from the start. It will be a matter of getting the combinations going, have them tested against quality opposition like the Stormers and get an idea of where we are,” Human said.
“I am pleased with the experience and quality in the group, but you still need some matches together to get going and the weekend’s match in Cape Town will do exactly that,”
The first ever #SuperHeroSunday double-header onFebruary 3 at Cape Town Stadium, will feature all four Super Rugby franchise teams on the same day at one venue.
South Africa’s top players wearing their new jerseys inspired by Marvel’s Spider-Man, Thor, Black Panther and Captain America will run out at Cape Town Stadium on #SuperHeroSunday, for the first public appearance of the Marvel makeover of SA’s Super Rugby teams.
The Lions will be dressed in the familiar webbed suit of Spider-Man; the Sharks will adopt the Black Panther look; the Stormers will be looking to hammer their opponents in the colours of Thor; and the Bulls will shield all attacks thrown their way as Captain America.
The jerseys will be exclusively worn in most South African derbies. The teams will wear their usual jerseys for matches against international opposition.
Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Duncan Matthews, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Lood de Jager (captain), 4 Eli Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: Corniel Els, Simphiwe Matanzina, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Steenkamp, Thembelani Bholi, Embrose Papier, Manie Libbok, Dylan Sage, Johnny Kotze, Divan Rossouw.
Date: Sunday, February 3
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Divan Uys
Television match official: Christie du Preez
Match Day Highlights – Vodacom Bulls vs Emirates Lions
It was great seeing our #BullsFamily coming out to support us at Loftus Versfeld this past weekend!
Get your season tickets now at https://t.co/7NhaUvf2iQ and stand a chance to win an Isuzu D-max.#SuperPowered pic.twitter.com/o4YoKsicK3
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 29, 2019
