Jake White has reinforced the Vodacom Bulls’ Currie Cup corps with top performers in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship for Saturday’s rematch against Griquas at Loftus Versfeld.
The likes of Madosh Tambwe, Cornal Hendricks, Cyle Brink and Ruan Nortje have been added to the Bulls’ arsenal and will feature from the opening whistle or off the bench.
White has said he would capitalise on the two-week URC break and bolster the Bulls’ match-day squads for clashes with the Griquas and Lions.
The Pretoria outfit top the Currie Cup standings on 32 points, one ahead of the unbeaten Free State Cheetahs, who have a game in hand.
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White, who will replace an ill Gert Smal in the coaches’ box on Saturday, has warned of backlash from Griquas, who will be seeking revenge for an emphatic 53-27 defeat against the Bulls in Kimberley in March.
“We have no doubt that we have a very tough fixture this weekend against a Griquas side that has shown what they are capable of,” the Bulls director of rugby said.
“They are always a tough side to beat and we are certain that they will come out guns blazing this weekend.
“We are trying to have a good balance in this team, as evidenced by our selection. We have given a few of the guys who have been playing URC some time out, while others we will continue to add value to the Currie Cup.”
On filling in for Smal, White added: “I coach every week as director, it’s not like I’m not here. Gert has been sick this week and he’s actually gone actively to sort out this problem.
“He should be fine. It’s definitely not Covid-19 or anything like that. I’m here anyway, so he’ll hopefully be ready next week and back on board.”
Meanwhile, Griquas have been forced to make several injury-enforced changes for Saturday’s encounter. Gustav du Randt starts at hooker in place of Simon Westraadt (hamstring). Mzwanele Zito has been ruled out (broken nose) leading to the promotion of lock Johan Retief from the bench.
Bulls – 15 Canan Moodie, 14 Stravino Jacobs, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Arno Botha (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dylan Smith, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Muller Uys, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Stedman Gans.
Griquas – 15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (c), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Gustav du Randt, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Subs: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Edward Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Luyolo Dapula, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Christopher Hollis, 23 Ashlon Davids.
