JJ Harmse

Pretoria – The vacancy left in the Springbok team due to the injury sustained by Heinrich Brüssow has shifted the focus to his possible successor.

After two productive years as an openside flank, the Bulls’ Deon Stegmann tops the list to take over from his former school- and team-mate.

In fact, he won his duel with his former Grey College class-mate when the Bulls and Cheetahs played in the opening round of the Super 14 this season. Stegmann also impressed against the Brumbies.

Coach Frans Ludeke gave Derick Kuün game time against the Waratahs, and in terms of an earlier agreement, Kuün will again start against the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with Stegmann set to start on the bench.

Kuün was impressive in his first game as an openside flank in two years and will be breathing down Stegmann’s neck as he gains confidence in the position. However, Stegmann definitely leads the national race.

“Our team is happy with the rotation policy and everyone has bought in to it. Everybody understands that the team comes first,” said Ludeke.

“Steggies is definitely in the picture, but the race for Brüssow’s place will play out over the next few months.”

The Highlanders have omitted loose forward Adam Thomson and flyhalf Michael Hobbs after they broke a team curfew.

Hobbs has been replaced by Mat Berquist and Thomson by Tim Boys.

Teams:

Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Derick Kuun, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Rossouw De Klerk, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Deon Stegmann, 20. Pedrie Wannenburg, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Jaco van der Westhuyzen

Highlanders:
15. Israel Dagg, 14. Ben Smith, 13. Kenny Lynn, 12. Jason Shoemark, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10. Mat Berquist, 9. Sean Romans, 8. Steven Setephano, 7. Alando Soakai, 6. Tim Boys, 5. Tom Donnelly, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 3. Chris King, 2. Jason Macdonald, 1. Jamie Mackintosh (captain)

Substitutes: 16. Jason Rutledge, 17. Bronson Murray, 18. Hayden Triggs, 19. John Hardie, 20. Scott Cowan, 21. Robbie Robinson, 22. James Paterson