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Pretoria - The Blue Bulls' exit out of the Currie Cup competition has come as a welcome bonus for the Under-21 side, who face their own semi-final this weekend, reports the supersport.com website.
Junior coach Nollis Marais has the luxury of using the services of lock Paul Willemse, flank Jacques du Plessis, flyhalf Handré Pollard and midfielder Jan Serfontein for the playoff game.
The four are still under 21 - and in Pollard and Du Plessis’ case - still under-19 - and therefore qualify to play for the Blue Bulls Under-21 side, who grabbed the home semi-final by beating the Cheetahs 29-27 in their match in Bloemfontein on the weekend.
The bonus will strengthen the Bulls squad but there is a debate whether the likes of Serfontein - who three weeks ago faced the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship - should be playing rugby at all and not resting for the Springboks’ end of year tour.
The move also means the Under-19 team, which topped the national log, is set to get players back who were elevated to Under-21 status in the quartet’s absence.
The Blue Bulls Under-21 team face the Sharks Under-21 side in their semi-final on Saturday at 15:00. The Under-19 team face the Leopards’ at 13:00. Both games are at Loftus Versfeld and entrance is free.
Junior coach Nollis Marais has the luxury of using the services of lock Paul Willemse, flank Jacques du Plessis, flyhalf Handré Pollard and midfielder Jan Serfontein for the playoff game.
The four are still under 21 - and in Pollard and Du Plessis’ case - still under-19 - and therefore qualify to play for the Blue Bulls Under-21 side, who grabbed the home semi-final by beating the Cheetahs 29-27 in their match in Bloemfontein on the weekend.
The bonus will strengthen the Bulls squad but there is a debate whether the likes of Serfontein - who three weeks ago faced the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship - should be playing rugby at all and not resting for the Springboks’ end of year tour.
The move also means the Under-19 team, which topped the national log, is set to get players back who were elevated to Under-21 status in the quartet’s absence.
The Blue Bulls Under-21 team face the Sharks Under-21 side in their semi-final on Saturday at 15:00. The Under-19 team face the Leopards’ at 13:00. Both games are at Loftus Versfeld and entrance is free.
