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Late Hougaard blow for Bulls

Brenden Nel

Pretoria - The Bulls were dealt a harsh blow hours before their Super 14 opening game in Bloemfontein when Springbok utility back Francois Hougaard was forced to withdraw from the side due to injury.
  
Hougaard was named in the team to take on the Cheetahs earlier in the week after passing a fitness test, but failed to complete the side’s captain’s run on Thursday night, and was given until Friday morning to assess his fitness.

However, team doctor Org Strauss consulted with head coach Frans Ludeke on Friday morning, and it was decided to withdraw him as a precaution ahead of a tough Super 14 season.

Veteran winger John Mametsa, who performed well in the pre-season match against the Lions, will replace Hougaard in the team after originally failing to make the starting 22.

The Bulls will be hoping to start their title defence on a good note against the Cheetahs, in what is a replay of last year’s Currie Cup final.
 
Teams:

Cheetahs:
15-Riaan Viljoen, 14-Lionel Mapoe, 13-Corné Uys, 12-Meyer Bosman, 11-Jongi Nokwe, 10-Naas Olivier, 9-Tewis de Bruyn, 8-Ashley Johnson, 7-Juan Smith (captain), 6-Heinrich Brüssow, 5-David de Villiers, 4-Nico Breedt, 3-WP Nel, 2-Adriaan Strauss, 1-Wian du Preez

Substitutes: 16-Ryno Barnes, 17-Coenie Oosthuizen, 18-Walti Vermeulen, 19-Frans Viljoen, 20-Sarel Pretorius, 21-Sias Ebersohn, 22-Danwel Demas

Bulls:
15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Gerhard van den Heever, 13-Jaco Pretorius, 12-Wynand Olivier, 11-John Mametsa, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Pierre Spies, 7-Pedrie Wannenburg, 6-Deon Stegmann, 5-Victor Matfield (captain), 4-Danie Rossouw, 3-Werner Kruger, 2-Gary Botha, 1-Gurthro Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16-Bandise Maku, 17-Bees Roux, 18-Flip vd Merwe, 19-Derick Kuun, 20-Heini Adams, 21-Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22-Stephan Dippenaar
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