Young Bulls unleashed on Cheetahs
The Bulls and Cheetahs go head-to-head at Harare's national stadium on Saturday.
The likes of Divan Rossouw, Dan Kriel, Jason Jenkins and Hanro Liebenberg all still played age-group rugby in 2015 and now gets the chance to show their mettle in the senior ranks.
The team will be lead by lock Marvin Orie, with Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl deputising.
Marais opted for youth, but also picked experienced stalwarts in vital positions.
Prop Werner Kruger has played in more than 100 Super Rugby matches and hooker Callie Visagie in more than 50, whilst Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl will provide solid direction from behind a pack of forwards that also include Lizo Gqoboka, the new signing from the EP Kings.
Francois Brummer, who last played for the Bulls in 2010 and who is on loan from the Pumas, was named on the bench.
Brummer has played for the Cheetahs in recent years, as did flank Freddy Ngoza, who played Currie Cup rugby in Bloemfontein last year.
"We had a good camp here in Zimbabwe and I am pretty excited to see this team play," Marais said.
"Obviously we are not playing the likes of Adriaan Strauss, Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein and Jesse Kriel, to name a few, but the guys starting have shown in training that they have the desire and commitment to play for the Bulls.
"I've always firmly believed that any member of the squad should be able to start at any time, and we'll be putting this to the test over the next two weekends."
The fact that he coached most of the players at age-group level did help in preparing for the match, Marais said.
"These guys have played for our junior teams in the recent past and are familiar with our objectives and desired way of play.
"I hope we can find our rhythm and structure early on in the match, as this will help us trying out the things we want to do.
"That said, it is the first match of a long season, so there will be mistakes. That is fine and the guys know they can go out and play."
Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Kefentse Mahlo, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 6 Freddy Ngoza, 5 Marvin Orie (captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements – from: Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman, Nqoba Mxoli, Irne Herbst, Riekert Hattingh, Ivan van Zyl, Francois Brummer, JT Jackson, Jamba Ulengo.
Date: Saturday, February 6
Venue: National Stadium, Harare
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
