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Johannesburg - Experienced scrumhalf Ruan Snyman will lead the Blue Bulls when they take on Griquas in their Vodacom Cup semi-final in Kimberley on Friday.
Snyman takes over the reins from loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze who, along with regular tight-head prop Rayno Gerber, has been called into the Bulls' Super Rugby squad in Australia.
Wiaan Liebenberg replaces Van Velze, while Rossouw de Klerk - returning from a foot injury - replaces Gerber.
University of Pretoria star loose forward Jacques Verwey comes onto the bench as cover for Liebenberg.
Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar admitted that his side faced a tough task.
"Griquas outplayed us in our opening fixture of the season earlier this year at Loftus and we will have to show massive resolve and character to win this one," he said.
"Our win over the Sharks XV at the weekend was a remarkable and memorable one, but that will count for nothing.
"The 80-minute effort of this match will determine our season. Griquas has topped the log of our section deservedly as they played great rugby."
Teams:
Griquas:
TBA
Blue Bulls: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Ruan Snyman (captain), 8 Jono Ross (vice-captain), 7 Wiaan Liebenberg, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Vincent Koch.
Substitutes: 16 Zane Botha, 17 Basil Short, 18 Daniel Adongo, 19 Jacques Verwey, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Willie du Plessis, 22 Tony Jantjies.
