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Pretoria - Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke announced an unchanged starting line-up and bench from the team that beat Western Province in the semi-final for Saturday's Currie Cup final against the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus.
A feature of the side is that 14 of the starting line-up ran on in the final of the Super 14, which the Bulls won 61-17 against the Chiefs at Loftus an the end of May.
The exception is Francois Hougaard. He is on the wing in place of Akona Ndungane, who broke his leg in his first Currie Cup outing of the season two months ago.
Captain Victor Matfield and vice-captain Fourie du Preez both run onto Loftus in a match that will be made even more special by their individual milestones.
It will be Du Preez's 51st Currie Cup match and he will be given the ovation that he deserves on his home field, as will Matfield in his 50th Currie Cup match.
"It is a big bonus playing in the final at Loftus," said Ludeke, referring to the way the Blue Bulls fought back to clinch the semifinal 10 days ago and the Free State's unexpected win against the Sharks in Durban.
He wouldn't comment on the possible double that awaits the Blue Bulls.
"It's a new season; the Super 14 is a closed door," he said.
"We know it'll be a tough contest, but if we focus on our own game we should have a good chance."
Matfield said the players could feel the hype all over Pretoria.
"We're a little nervous; it could be a great day or a massive disappointment. But we also see this as part of the season's journey, an occasion to be enjoyed," he said.
Ludeke didn't avoid the scrumming issue, where the Blue Bulls have been less than convincing throughout the season while the Free State side probably won their semifinal against the Sharks through their front row who were all over the home team's strong men.
"We're confident in our scrum," he said. "We back ourselves."
Like the scrum, Ludeke conceded that the breakdown will be a focus point in the match but assured that the Blue Bulls were not overawed about playing against Heinrich Brussow, who has not lost the breakdown battle this season.
"We also have some capable players at breakdown," Ludeke pointed out.
And, as always, the game will be about winning as many turnovers as possible and conceding as few as each team can.
"The most important thing will be to focus for 80 minutes," Ludeke said.
"Accuracy will be very important and we'll have to apply pressure for 80 minutes. That's when the mistakes creep in (for the opposition).
"Finals are won by character and we must be ready to grasp any opportunity that comes out way."
On the issue of Brussow, who made a huge impact for the Springboks after a solitary off-the-bench Test cap at the end of last year, Matfield pointed out that Blue Bulls team-mate Deon Stegmann also had an outstanding season.
"The open-side flanker's role has changed. We're very happy with Deon, whose play is very close to that of Heinrich (Brussow's) who is a good friend of his," the skipper said.
"But one must remember that, ultimately, the breakdown is a team effort."
Matfield added that it would be special to win the Super 14 and the Currie Cup in the same year.
"It will be amazing to do that in one year, both times at Loftus," he said.
"It's easy to motivate the guys - and it's awesome for Bryan (Habana, who plays his last match for the Bulls before his departure to Western Province and the Stormers), who came to the Blue Bulls to win the Currie Cup and now has the chance to do so. We hope to make it a good farewell for him."
Blue Bulls team: Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (capt.), Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Gerhard van den Heever.
