Morne Steyn will lead the Bulls in their Champions Cup debut conflict towards French outfit, Lyon.
The match scheduled for Saturday 10 December, will kick-off at 19:30 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
A combined herd
Steyn will lead a balanced facet of youth combined with expertise because the Bulls step into new territory in the Champions Cup, a contest BBCo Director of Rugby, Jake White sees because the equal of worldwide rugby.
“To be fair (as a group) we are probably a little bit naive. Whether you are in the Heineken Cup or the Challenger cup, it’s tough competition. You look at the teams running out every week and its international players coming onto the field and we don’t have Springboks in every position,”
“I have explained to our team how difficult, how competitive and challenging this competition is. Like championship football, this is an opportunity to play against the best in the sport.”
Junior Springbok star, Muller Uys can have the skilled Bismarck Du Plessis, Jacques van Rooyen, Jacques Du Plessis and Nizaam Carr to lean on alongside the likes of Wj Steenkamp, Reinhardt Ludwig, Dylan Smith who full the forwards’ pack.
More modifications
Loose Head Prop Lizo Gqoboka returns after a five-month harm lay off and he’ll be working from the bench in what is about to be one centesimal sport for the Vodacom Bulls, throughout all competitions. Stravino Jacobs and Sibongile Novuka mix at wing while Stedman Gans slots in at outdoors centre with Marco Jansen van Vuren on the within. Wandisile Simelane will run from the again, beginning at full-back, a swap from outdoors centre which his mentor, Jake White, touts to assist develop Simelane’s sport.
“The more guys we have who are versatile in the backline, that is the philosophy we have got at the Vodacom Bulls, the better this team will be. So it will be good to see Wandi run out at full-back and seeing him develop more and more in that position,”
“Having him at the back means if they kick and kick poorly when he gets the ball, they will have to defend because he can turn nothing into something. A little like Kurt-Lee [Arendse] when has the ball in hand and he runs at you, he can obviously create magic.”
Bulls want to rotate
White highlighted the significance of rotating the squad because the season progresses and famous that the facet has good steadiness.
“At the beginning of the month, I had said we are going to have to be clever in how we manage the players and it just turned out that this weekend a couple of the guys from the Springboks needed some time off, and some guys had worked really hard to get a game. I felt that it is a home game, so it is a good opportunity for some of the boys who have worked hard to get the start,”
“There is a mixture of Springbok experience, with guys who have European experience whilst there are about six or seven players who have played Currie Cup and others who have played in Super Rugby finals, so there is a nice balance of experience and some young guys getting the chance,”
“We pick a team that needs to win, a team that [will] give us the best chance. Our ethos is what’s best for the team and not the game ahead or who plays for the Springboks,”
“Taking nothing away from Lyon, because I know how strong they are and how good Top14 rugby is. This is an opportunity and I think we are going to have to be clever this game, next week and the game after that, all the way through to the end of January before we get another break with the Six Nations,”
White additionally highlighted the necessity for rotation to maintain good morale across the camp while additionally reiterating that the facet is powerful with age and expertise on their backs.
“One thing coaches can do is create hope, there is no use in talking shop about playing opportunities and never play the boys,”
“The important thing is that Morne, Bismarck and Jacques have played in France but a guy like Jacques van Rooyen, Dylan Smith who has played in England as well. A few of the guys have also played European rugby as well, some having played against Lyon in the French league, so they will know what to expect and they can teach the youngsters what to expect” concluded the Bulls mentor.
Bulls workforce
BULLS STARTING XV: 1. Dylan Smith, 2. Bismarck Du Plessis, 3. Jacques van Rooyen, 4. Jacques Du Plessis, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 6. Nizaam Carr, 7. Wj Steenkamp, 8. Muller Uys, 9. Bernard van der Linde, 10. Morne Steyn (c), 11. Stravino Jacobs, 12. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 13. Stedman Gans, 14. Sibongile Novuka, 15. Wandisile Simelane
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Jan Hendrik Wessels, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Phumzile Maqondwana, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Barend Smith, 23. Juan Mostert.
