Vodacom Super 14
Bok coach to be at Bulls game
2009-01-29 08:12
Email | Print
Peter de Villiers (Gallo Images)
|
Morris Gilbert
Pretoria. – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will attend Friday night’s friendly rugby match between the Bulls and Cheetahs in Polokwane.
The Bulls and Cheetahs have both indicated with their line-ups how seriously they are taking this warm-up game prior to the Super14. And with De Villiers in the crowd, there will be even more at stake for the players.
In the Bulls line-up, in particular, there are some players De Villiers may regard as key to winning the looming series against the British and Irish Lions. These include Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Gurthrö Steenkamp.
As expected, Bulls coach Frans Ludeke picked his strongest available line-up and it provides a good indication of what his 22-man squad may look like for the opening game against the Reds.
Marius Delport, at outside centre, is the only player in the backline that is not a first-choice in his position, given that new Bull, Jaco Pretorius, should be Wynand Olivier’s centre partner against the Reds.
The Bulls team is:
Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Marius Delport, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Substitutes: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Frik Kirsten, Dean Greyling, Danie Rossouw, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Wayne Julies, Gerhard van den Heever, Braam Gerber/Jaco Pretorius, Jacques Burger, Wilhelm Steenkamp.