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Pretoria - Springbok scrumhalf Heini Adams will get his first start of this year’s Vodacom Super 14 after he replaced Fourie du Preez for Saturday’s match against the Auto and General Lions.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made just two changes to the side that lost against the Reds in Brisbane last week, the first being Jaco Pretorius who returns to the side from injury and replaces Stefan Dippenaar in the midfield. Adams’ inclusion, swopping roles with Du Preez is the other change, with the Springbok star Du Preez getting a well-earned rest for the weekend.
“We’re just managing Fourie at the moment,” Ludeke said at the team announcement. “He was struggling with a niggling shoulder injury and felt he would not be 100 percent ready for the weekend so we decided to rest him. When something like that happens, we always revert to the squad system.”
The rest of the team stays the same as the Bulls look to press home their advantage at home and take a step closer to that elusive home semi-final spot.
“This is a big week for us,” Ludeke added, “We know that there is a lot to play for and that nobody has secured anything yet. We take these things week for week and we need to go out there and win on our home field this weekend.
“We need to use the opportunities we are given and secure some good possession to launch our attacks from.” While there have been calls to rest flyhalf Morne Steyn, Ludeke has resisted these.
“I think some people have been a bit unfair to Morne, especially as he missed two long range kicks on tour in New Zealand and missed two other kicks. His success rate is still one of the best in the competition.
“Morne knows what is expected of him, he works hard on his game and he certainly hasn’t been overplayed. Morne is in a good space at this moment and it is just a matter of time before he is in top form again.”
Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner; 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard; 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Heini Adams; 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Derick Kuün, 5. Victor Matfield (capt), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Substitutes: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Deon Stegmann, 20. Fourie du Preez, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg.
