Tuks' Van Velze looking Bullish
Talented FNB Tuks loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been handed a first-ever Currie Cup start for the Blue Bulls when they host Boland at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. (Kick-off 7pm.)
Van Velze – who captained the SA Under-20 team in Wales last year – will wear the No.7 shirt for the Bulls; forming a potent loose trio with Dries van Schalkwyk and Jacques Burger.
The 21-year-old played Varsity Cup rugby for Tuks last year, but was unavailable during the 2009 competition due to Vodacom Cup commitments with the Blue Bulls.
Joining Van Velze in the Bulls mix is fellow Tuk, winger Gerhard van den Heever, who also played in the 2008 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
Van den Heever made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls earlier this year and has impressed in the 2009 Currie Cup thus far.
The Blue Bulls team: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Marius Delport; 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 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 Pedrie Wannenburg, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.
Meanwhile, former Tuks ace Johan Jackson – who played in the 2009 Varsity Cup for the Pretoria-based university – is back in the Lions starting XV for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas in Johannesburg at 7pm.
Speedster Jackson swaps places with Springbok Henno Mentz, the latter dropping to the bench after starting against the Leopards last weekend.
Two UJ Varsity Cup representatives, Walter Venter and Derick Minnie, have also been named in the Lions 22 – with Venter at inside centre and loose forward Minnie on the bench.
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, 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 Johan Snyman, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Rouan Cloete, 22 Henno Mentz.
