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JJ Harmse
Pretoria – Bakkies Botha last captained a side in 1998 when he led the SA Schools team, but he believes it will be an easy job to skipper a Bulls outfit full of players eager to prove themselves.
The team announced on Wednesday shows fourteen changes from the one that beat the Crusaders last week and, as expected, the Bulls are resting all their big guns for Saturday’s Newlands clash.
“There are a few very senior guys in the team and a number of young players that cannot wait for their opportunity at Super 14 level. Nobody will be lacking motivation. If the Stormers can’t get the best out of you at Newlands, nothing will,” said Botha.
He’s also not concerned that the captaincy will get in the way of his robust approach.
“The nice thing about this game is that we can all enjoy it. This is a chance for the young guys that could only dream of playing at a packed Newlands. I will lead by example and want to enjoy the 80 minutes,” said Botha.
While the enjoyment factor will be there, the approach to the match is very serious.
“We’re playing in the Bulls jersey. We respect the Stormers. They’re playing good rugby. But there is no reason to underestimate us.”
He believes the Bulls can shock the home team, especially if it rains.
“I have looked at the weather forecast and there is a possibility of rain. That will make things very interesting.”
Only two of the Bulls’ players – Deon Helberg and Gerrit-Jan van Velze – have not previously played Super 14 rugby, though others such as Tiger Mangweni and De Wet Barry will be making their first appearance for the Bulls.
Van Velze is one of a few players in the side that won the Vodacom Cup last week. The rest of the team is made up mostly of Bulls squad players.
Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Bees Roux, Jaco Engels and Bandise Maku are the ones not to have made the Bulls starting line-up yet this year.
Stormers v Bulls, Cape Town 17:05
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Juan De Jongh, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Eusebio Guinazu, 18. Anton van Zyl, 19. Pieter Louw, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Willem De Waal, 22. Tim Whitehead
Bulls:
15. Tiger Mangweni, 14. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. De Wet Barry, 11. Deon Helberg, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Heini Adams, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg, 7. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 6. Derick Kuun, 5. Bakkies Botha (captain), 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Bees Roux, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Jaco Engels
Substitutes: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Dean Greyling, 18. Fudge Mabeta, 19. Okkie Kruger, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Francois Brummer, 22.Stefan Watermeyer
Pretoria – Bakkies Botha last captained a side in 1998 when he led the SA Schools team, but he believes it will be an easy job to skipper a Bulls outfit full of players eager to prove themselves.
The team announced on Wednesday shows fourteen changes from the one that beat the Crusaders last week and, as expected, the Bulls are resting all their big guns for Saturday’s Newlands clash.
“There are a few very senior guys in the team and a number of young players that cannot wait for their opportunity at Super 14 level. Nobody will be lacking motivation. If the Stormers can’t get the best out of you at Newlands, nothing will,” said Botha.
He’s also not concerned that the captaincy will get in the way of his robust approach.
“The nice thing about this game is that we can all enjoy it. This is a chance for the young guys that could only dream of playing at a packed Newlands. I will lead by example and want to enjoy the 80 minutes,” said Botha.
While the enjoyment factor will be there, the approach to the match is very serious.
“We’re playing in the Bulls jersey. We respect the Stormers. They’re playing good rugby. But there is no reason to underestimate us.”
He believes the Bulls can shock the home team, especially if it rains.
“I have looked at the weather forecast and there is a possibility of rain. That will make things very interesting.”
Only two of the Bulls’ players – Deon Helberg and Gerrit-Jan van Velze – have not previously played Super 14 rugby, though others such as Tiger Mangweni and De Wet Barry will be making their first appearance for the Bulls.
Van Velze is one of a few players in the side that won the Vodacom Cup last week. The rest of the team is made up mostly of Bulls squad players.
Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Bees Roux, Jaco Engels and Bandise Maku are the ones not to have made the Bulls starting line-up yet this year.
Stormers v Bulls, Cape Town 17:05
Stormers:
15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Juan De Jongh, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Eusebio Guinazu, 18. Anton van Zyl, 19. Pieter Louw, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Willem De Waal, 22. Tim Whitehead
Bulls:
15. Tiger Mangweni, 14. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. De Wet Barry, 11. Deon Helberg, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Heini Adams, 8. Pedrie Wannenburg, 7. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 6. Derick Kuun, 5. Bakkies Botha (captain), 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Bees Roux, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Jaco Engels
Substitutes: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Dean Greyling, 18. Fudge Mabeta, 19. Okkie Kruger, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Francois Brummer, 22.Stefan Watermeyer
