Bulls’ best for Lions clash
The Bulls will field their strongest available side for their pre-season match against the Lions in Polokwane on Saturday.
The defending champions have scheduled just one warm-up fixture ahead of their Super 14 campaign, which begins on 12 February, and coach Frans Ludeke stressed that they had to make maximum use of that opportunity.
‘There’s no time to mess around, we’re going to go with our best available team,’ Ludeke told keo.co.za.
‘We’ve opted for just one warm-up game because we feel that we know how we want to play and the boys are familiar with the patterns. Not much will change this season in terms of the way we play, just a few refinements here and there.
‘So we didn’t need an extensive pre-season programme. Maybe the boys will be a touch rusty in the first game, but I’m not too worried about that. We have high quality individuals within the squad who’ll hit their straps quickly.’
However, injuries to key players will see a number of alternate combinations trialled.
In the front row, hooker Gary Botha should get a start in the absence of Chiliboy Ralepelle, while Danie Rossouw is likely to partner Victor Matfield at lock given that Bakkies Botha is in the early stages of rehabilitation for an injured Achilles tendon.
The loose trio will probably see Deon Stegmann, Pedrie Wannenberg and Pierre Spies operate at openside flank, blindside flank and No 8 respectively.
There is still doubt about the availability of Springbok centre Wynand Olivier. He started training last week after a lengthy period out with a knee injury. A call will be made on him later this week, but who will replace him if unavailable is still unclear.
Jaco Pretorius deputised there last season in Olivier’s absence, and could be asked to do so again, with youngster Stephan Dippenaar an option for Ludeke. Alternatively, there could be a first opportunity for former Springbok No 12, De Wet Barry, to start. Barry, who is contracted to Eastern Province, is training with the Bulls this week and will be used in an emergency.
The Bulls’ biggest concern is on the wing, where injuries to Akona Ndungane and Francois Hougaard means the Bulls have little choice but to look to their third choice, John Mametsa.
Meanwhile the Bulls will have to wait at least another week before Jaco van der Westhuyzen joins the squad as his Japanese club, the NEC Green Rockets, qualified on for the 47th All-Japan championship.
The plus side is that the Bulls’ Springbok quartet of Matfield, Spies, Fourie du Preez and Morné Steyn were managed conservatively in pre-season after a physically and emotionally taxing 2009, and therefore should be primed for the title defence. Ludeke believes this will benefit the team tremendously.
‘They’ve had the equivalent of a five-week break, so they’ve had an opportunity to re-energise physically, and they come into the season mentally and emotionally fresh,’ he said.
‘In our training sessions they have run at the front, which makes a statement to the other guys in the team that they aren’t content with what they’ve achieved.
‘They’ve closed the door on their success of the past year and are looking forward to doing something special in 2010.’
Bulls [likely] - 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 John Mametsa, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Gerhard van den Heerver, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Deon Stegmann, 6 Pedrie Wannenberg, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
By Ryan Vrede
January 25th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Just to update you on some of the issues raised in this report, Ryan:
Wynand Olivier is back in training and is completely recovered. He is just not fit yet, given his extended lay-off, so his focus at the moment is on gaining fitness. He will probably get 20-40 minutes or so in the warm up game, I would guess.
As for who would replace him: I am disappointed that you have to make so many wild guesses as to who the backup no 12 is in the Bulls squad. It is common knowledge that Jacques Louis Potgieter was in fact recruited as cover for both the 10 and 12 positions.
He will almost certainly start at 12 if Olivier is given a rest.
In the Bulls squad, every guy knows who is the first and second choice in each position. This is not shifted around unless for a very specific need.
Dippenaar is the backup 13, and due to his pace, also an emergency cover at wing. So Dippenaar is the backup to Pretorius, not to Olivier.
As for wing: Van den Heever and Hougaard are the first choice wings for the Bulls this season, with Ndungane and Mametsa/Dippenaar as backups.
And as for hooker: Botha is the first choice, so your implication that he is only filling in for the injured Rallapele is wide off the mark, my friend.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:03 am
still a powerful team this….great draw….
my favorites to win the trophy.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:10 am
The Bulls strength will be the 8,9,10,12 combination, just like last year. It is the best combo not only in the competition, but in the world. If that remains intact until the end of the competition, I favour them to do very well.
And of course, Matfield needs to remain uninjured to lead them.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:18 am
This may be their strongest available side, but it still won’t be nearly enough. Lions by 20+
January 25th, 2010 at 9:20 am
@katman:
January 25th, 2010 at 9:23 am
@katman:
Mornin’, Katman.
So, in the unlikely event that the Lions do not win the S14 trophy this year, what is a realistic log position for them to finish on, in your view?
January 25th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Tacitus: If not champs, then runners up. Anything less will be seriously disappointing. Home semi is non-negotiable.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:33 am
@katman:
Sigh. Back to the “cover my heartache with humour” approach, I see.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@Tacitus: Mate, you don’t even know what heartache is. But you will find out soon enough. And it’s not a bowl of ice cream, I can promise you.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:43 am
@katman:
Yeah, it is inevitable. All teams go up and down. But boy, what an “up” this has been for me.
And if they manage things properly this time around, the “down” will hopefully not be as terrible as it was in the late nineties.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Akona not first choice, since when?
it is an impressive pack of forwards they have but without Habana and Akona they lack that strike power out wide and lets not mention the paleness of the backline too.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:07 am
@RedLion:
Francois Hougaard stated on the Bulls blog that he will be in the starting line up this season. When Du Preez’s not playing, it will be at scrumhalf. If he is, then at no.11. That promise was obviously made to him by the coach, as part of his career planning. Everyone knows exactly where they fit into the picture at the Bulls.
Now, they ain’t gonna drop van Den Heever, that’s for sure, so which wing will make way for Hougaard?
Besides, Akona’s out for the first month of the tournament at least, so it’s not really an issue.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:13 am
@Tacitus: I bet Akona can’t be too happy to lose his starting spot to a scrumhalf.
good luck Bully boys.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:19 am
and that means that Heine is finished too, he can’t complain though being an old man.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:20 am
@RedLion:
Nah, I think they’ll manage it very well. It is only my assumption that Akona won’t start. Maybe I’m wrong.
And besides, he will probably be out for the first half of the tournament. So when he gets back from injury, I expect Hougaard to move to scrumhalf so Du Preez can rest.
And maybe vd Heever will get a few games off too. It will be something like this:
First 5 weeks – Akona in rehabilitation.
Next 2 weeks – Akona plays off the bench to get his match fitness back. When he comes on in the 2nd half, Hougaard will move to scrumhalf.
Next 3 weeks – Du Preez gets a rest and Hougaard starts at scrumhalf.
Last 4 weeks – Whoever is in the best form will play.
Besides, there will be plenty of injuries along the way. Most likely Hougaard will have to help out at centre once or twice to cover for injured players.
Plenty of possibilities to keep everyone happy. Personally, I think it is unlikely that Akona’s shins will hold up to the end of the tournament in any case. He has chronic problems there.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:30 am
I do think that the Bulls will have quota problems this year.
With Habana gone, we have a situation where for the first time in ages a white wing is actually the best choice in that position, leaving only Akona on the other wing.
And of course, Gary Botha will almost certainly replace the chronicly injured Rallapelle at hooker.
And with Hougaard there, Adams’s days are numbered.
So essentially, the Bulls are left with only Kirchner and Gurthro as geniune contenders for starting places in the team.
And then we have Jaco vd. Westhuizen, who is really better than Kirchner as well. Which would leave only Gurthro. Not to mention that Gurthro’s form has been shocking of late.
Some juggling on the cards for Frans, I’m afraid. All because of ridiculous quota requirements.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:12 am
7. katman: Had a browse on supersport.com and noticed that the Auto & General Lions were leading (number one) on the 2010 super 14 log?
January 25th, 2010 at 11:17 am
@BESTER: Exactly. And they still doubt us. Can’t convince some people, hey.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Tactitus you are talking pish now.
Ndgane has been a brilliant performer for the Bulls.
Van den Heever may be quick with a step but he looks like a ***** so far. Quite frankly,I’d rather have Tiger Mangweni who also performed brilliantly with his limited opportunities…and he is not a *****. Zane Kirchiner is way better than Jaco, in fact, another season like last will see him claim the Bok 15 as his own. Him and Milianu are the finest attacking fullbacks in the world, except Zane is a real nasty fcker on defence as well.
Nonetheless, wacko Jaco is brilliant option coming off the bench, Hougaard will become a super player and that Diepenaar as well as Watermeyer will in all likelyhood also become stars.
My primary issues are around our front row that has gained a reputation for being a soft touch at set piece scrum time.This needs to sort itself out because Spies is completely negated so long as he is always on the backfoot.
truth be told…we’re short of the X(habana) factor to my mind but there is still enough quality to retain the trophy so long as we can get our best 22 selected.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:59 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl:
I still think we should have broken the bank to try get that Mapoe bloke, he looks like a Bulls player through and through.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Guthro Steenkamps scrumming has never been that great but to my mind there is no better prop in the country that attacks the ruck area with his sort of aggression and venom.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl:
A few comments:
We need some real pace on the wing. Akona is good, but he is a slowpoke, and Hougaard, good as he is, is a scrumhalf. So whichever of those two play on the one wing, we need van den Heever on the other.
As for Zane. He is a clown. A clown that has some good moments, but equally one that has some terrible moments in between.
He is not Bok material at the moment, and Jaco vd Westhuizen is indeed better than him. How Kirchner became a Bok when Roets couldn’t is a mystery. But I like the idea of Jaco on the bench, if only for the versatility he gives us. Backup for 10, 11,14 and 15.
Anyway, that’s the way it is.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
@Tacitus: You’re putting way too much faith in Jaco of Nazareth.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Roets definately should have earned a bok call up at some or other stage.
But I’d take Kirchener over either of the 2(Jaco who has had some monumental Clown moments). He’s as brave as Roets ever was with great field position but much quicker and attack minded. Kirchener was a model of consistency last season, first season he had a couple shockers addmitedly.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
@katman:
Wacko Jaco was man of the match in the final 10 minutes of the 2007 S14 final.
a legend in his own life time. did you EVER climb rugby posts that fast.
truely jaco of nazereth
January 25th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
@katman:
And you mistake Jaco’s performance at flyhalf for the Boks with his performance at fullback for the Bulls.
Like Frans Steyn, he is no flyhalf. But he is a very good fullback. Look at the Bulls 2007 season again. If he brings that same level of performance to the table, he is a better option than Kirchner.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl:
I hope Kirchner settles down. But I expect a spear tackle red card or a ball skewing off his boot into the stands next to him every time he gets involved in the action.
Once he sorts out his consistency issues, I will feel more comfortable with him. You do know that the Bulls only bought him after the Sharks outbid them for Odwa Ndungane’s services, right?
When Roets left, the Bulls first plan was to replace him with Odwa at fullback. When that didn’t work out, they got Kirchner.
The guy must just take a chill pill before each game. When he is settled down, he is a good player. But when he gets excited, warning lights start to flash on my TV screen.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
@Tacitus: Wrong. No sentence ever starts “katman, you mistake…” I never mistake.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I’m also quite keen to see some more of that lock Flip van Mervwe. Got injured during the CC but looked potentially the part if he get’s some game time.
and hopefully that Bees Roux adds something to our frontrow as well.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@katman:
…how come you supporting the Lions then?
Big,big,huge,massive mistake?
January 25th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: Nope, it’s an investment. And when it finally pays out, I’ll be able to retire (emotionally speaking, of course).
January 25th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
very long term invetment that one…
January 25th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: Agree with you Brigadier. Akona has to be first-choice for the right wing position. If Tac’s argument about Jaco’s 2007 form is to be upheld he needs to aply that consistently. Akona is a lethal finisher and fits brilliantly into the Bulls game plan. Van den Heever’s nickname is shadow coz that’s what he resembles on defence. I clutch my heart every time someone runs at him. Will not ever forget the disdainful manner in which Mapoe manhandled him en route to the tryline in the pool match last year. He has pace but no heart.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
@Taahirah:
I think it is a little early to say that Van Heerver has no heart as he is very young, but he definately needs to harden up sharpish. But the Bulls coaching do “aggression” very well…so he’ll probably play like a teenager possessed this season.
January 25th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
@katman:
a pyramid scheme….
January 25th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Bulls rumblings are very worrying (for a Shark supporter). They seem to be doing all the right things and seem VERY focused. The only weaknesses they have is no prop depth and pretty unspectacular outside backs. Kirchner is the only man there with some spark. To replace him with solid, boring wacko would be a mistake as 8 and 9 would then be your only game breakers. I expect Morne to play a kicking game, again people will call him 1 dimensional, when actually his running and distribution should be a strength.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I see we have 67 people in the league. Going very well.
Come on guys! Go onto Supersport – Home page – Dream League – set up a team – go to league tab – and the join league – enter the league code: 154 729 776 923 68 (no spaces)
Lets see who the real rugby brains are