Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made no changes to his side that beat the Golden Lions last weekend for their Absa Currie Cup semi-finals clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 16:30.
It is the first time this season that Pienaar has been able to name the same 22 on consecutive weekends and the coach feels that this could help them carry some momentum into Saturday’s showdown.
“Nothing that happened during the normal part of the competition will matter on Saturday. This will be about 80 minutes and who executes best. It is nice to know that we have some momentum with us, following the return of our Springboks and the way they came into the team,” Pienaar said.
“We finished well last weekend and will be looking to continue with that. We will have to start well, as the Sharks have proved many times that they know how to close out games when leading on the scoreboard.”
Blue Bulls captain, Dewald Potgieter, points to the fact that at least half of the squad has won the Currie Cup in their careers.
“We know what a special effort will be needed to go all the way. We have been with our back against the walls for long spells this season, but responded every time, which is typical of the characters you find in this squad. They won’t quit and that will be the mind-set again this weekend against a team that is well respected, but not unbeatable.”
Teams:
Sharks:
TBA
Blue Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Mornè Mellett
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouchè, 22 Dean Greyling
Kick-off is at 16:30.
It is the first time this season that Pienaar has been able to name the same 22 on consecutive weekends and the coach feels that this could help them carry some momentum into Saturday’s showdown.
“Nothing that happened during the normal part of the competition will matter on Saturday. This will be about 80 minutes and who executes best. It is nice to know that we have some momentum with us, following the return of our Springboks and the way they came into the team,” Pienaar said.
“We finished well last weekend and will be looking to continue with that. We will have to start well, as the Sharks have proved many times that they know how to close out games when leading on the scoreboard.”
Blue Bulls captain, Dewald Potgieter, points to the fact that at least half of the squad has won the Currie Cup in their careers.
“We know what a special effort will be needed to go all the way. We have been with our back against the walls for long spells this season, but responded every time, which is typical of the characters you find in this squad. They won’t quit and that will be the mind-set again this weekend against a team that is well respected, but not unbeatable.”
Teams:
Sharks:
TBA
Blue Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Mornè Mellett
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouchè, 22 Dean Greyling
