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JJ on the bench for Blue Bulls

Johannesburg - Springbok midfielder JJ Engelbrecht will make an uncustomary appearance off the bench when the Vodacom Blue Bulls face off with the Steval Pumas in a warm-up match for the Absa Currie Cup that starts next week.

According to the supersport.com website, Engelbrecht’s name is among the replacements in a 26-man squad named by coach Frans Ludeke that will take on the Pumas that is devoid of any Springboks that may be called up for international duty when the Bok squad is announced on Saturday.

The team will be led by flank Deon Stegmann, who is also the captain for the Currie Cup season.

William Small-Smith, the former SA under-20 captain who looked impressive at Super Rugby level with the limited chances he had will play at 13, while Burger Odendaal will have an opportunity to show what he can do in the absence of Jan Serfontein at 12.

Springboks Akona Ndungane and Piet van Zyl are in the backline while up front there is an all-Springbok front row of Werner Kruger, Bandise Maku and Dean Greyling.

SA under-20 players Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Jesse Kriel are also on the bench.

The squad to play against the Steval Pumas on Friday is: 15.Jurgen Visser, 14.Akona Ndungane, 13.William Small-Smith, 12.Burger Odendaal, 11.Sampie Mastriet, 10.Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9.Piet van Zyl, 8.Jacques Engelbrecht, 7.Jono Ross, 6.Deon Stegmann (captain), 5.Grant Hattingh, 4.Paul Willemse, 3.Werner Kruger, 2.Bandise Maku, 1.Dean Greyling.

Substitutes: 16.Bongi Mbonambi, 17.Morné Mellett, 18.Hencus van Wyk, 19.Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20.Wiaan Liebenberg, 21.Nardus van der Walt, 22.Rudy Paige, 23.Tony Jantjies, 24.JJ Engelbrecht, 25.Ulrich Beyers, 26.Jesse Kriel.

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