Blue Bulls change enforced

Johannesburg - The Blue Bulls have called up lock Wilhelm Steenkamp for the Absa Currie Cup rugby match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

Steenkamp replaces Flip van der Merwe who has joined the Springboks in New Zealand.

Van der Merwe's call-up follows the suspension of Bok lock Bakkies Botha and also the niggle to Danie Rossouw who will replace Botha in this weekend's Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Wellington.

The Bulls now have four locks on national duty, including the suspended Botha.

"We only got to know about the call-up of Flip yesterday (Tuesday)," said Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, "but we have been working on filling in for the loss of our players to the national side during the pre-Currie Cup preparations.

"We are fortunate to have replacements such as Wilhelm (Steenkamp) and Fudge (Mabeta)."

It will be a rather special game for Steenkamp. He played for the Sharks as a loan player in the recent Super 14 competition.

Lock Juandre Kruger, back from Premiership action, was injured last weekend. In the only change to last week's bench he is replaced by young lock Berend Botha who has been knocking on the door for some time.

The Blue Bulls team:

Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, John Mametsa, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Derick Kun, Deon Stegmann, Fudge Mabeta, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (captain), Dean Greyling.
Substitutes: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Berend Botha, CJ Stander, Danie Faasen, Francois Brummer, Hayden Groepes.