Publications
Partners
Pretoria - Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais opted for a youthful squad for his Currie Cup coaching debut on Saturday, when the Blue Bulls take on the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein (14:15 kick-off).
He also named former Free State flank, Lappies Labuschagne, as captain for the season opener. It will be the loose forward’s first match with the Barberton daisy on his chest, although he has played for the hosts 44 times before he moved to Pretoria.
The Bulls squad is packed with players who represented the Junior Springboks in recent years, while some seasoned Springboks add the needed degree of experience.
Making their Currie Cup debuts in the backline for the Blue Bulls are Warrick Gelant and Travis Ismaiel, with forwards Hanro Liebenberg, Marvin Orie and Jaco Visagie also running out as Blue Bulls Currie Cup players for the first time on Saturday.
Among the substitutes, Nqoba Mxoli, RG Snyman, Ivan van Zyl and Dries Swanepoel will all make a first Currie Cup appearance, should they be called upon.
Prop Werner Kruger will play in his 98th match in the competition.
“We have a good blend of youth and experience and I hope we can find the right mix in our playing style to add to that,” said Marais.
“I am positive that we can mix it up in our approach, and with a changed mindset we will carry the ball a bit more and use it in a positive way, but you don’t change things overnight, so I am comfortable in the knowledge that we have a good back-up plan too.”
The coach will be in charge in the Currie Cup for the first time, as will his counterpart, Franco Smith.
“We will both be nervous, no doubt, but it will be a positive nervous as we are keen to get this on the road. I am not too worried about the critics, it is those who support us that I am very keen not to disappoint.”
Labuschagne warned of the challenge that the Cheetahs will pose.
“Playing the Blue Bulls is always a massive game for the home side and this time will be no different. We will have to weather the storm and make sure we focus on those things we believe will make us successful. The group believe in each other, but the only way to prove that is out there on the field.”
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga
Blue Bulls:
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Nqoba Mxoli, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Dries Swanepoel
