Bulls call for Tukkies' Roos
Precocious FNB Tuks flyhalf JC Roos has been handed a call-up to the Blue Bulls’ bench for Saturday’s massive Currie Cup Round Two clash against Western Province at Loftus Versfeld.
The 19-year-old – who in February and March was playing Varsity Cup rugby for Tuks, having played Craven Week rugby for the ‘Baby Bulls’ last year this time – will serve as official back-up to SA Under-20 flyhalf Francois Brummer against the high-flying WP team.
Roos (pictured, middle), a Waterkloof High School product, was the fourth-highest points-scorer in the 2009 Varsity Cup; kicking six conversions, 17 penalties and one drop-goal for a personal tally of 66 points.
Joining Roos in the Blue Bulls 22 is another Tukkies youngster, loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze (pictured, right), who will also warm the bench.
However, a third Tuks star, winger Gerhard van den Heever, will start against WP in the No.14 shirt, having – ironically – made his Super 14 debut against the Stormers (basically, WP in disguise) earlier this season.
Of course, both Van den Heever and Van Velze – who captained the SA U20 team last year – played Varsity Cup rugby for Tuks in 2008.
The Blue Bulls-WP fixture gets underway at 5.05pm.
The Blue Bulls team: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Fudge Mabeta, 20 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 21 JC Roos, 22 Marius Delport.
Meanwhile, the Lions selectors have retained former Tuks winger Johan Jackson in their starting line-up after last week’s narrow 13-19 loss to the Bulls.
Jackson, UJ’s Walter Venter and UCT’s Pieter Engelbrecht – all of whom are in the Lions 22 – all played Varsity Cup rugby this year, whilst young Ikeys hooker Dayne Jans remains on trial with the union, having joined them last week only.
The Lions will host the Cheetahs – who also lost last week, at home to Griquas – at Coca-Cola Park this Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is at 3pm.
The Lions team: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Robert Kruger, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Pieter Engelbrecht, 22 Michael Killian.
