Returning veterans Morne Steyn, Juandre Kruger and Josh Strauss have all been named in the Vodacom Bulls starting lineup for this weekend’s Super Hero Sunday clash with the Lions.
The team includes a World Champion, Blitzboks, Vodacom Super Rugby stalwarts and several youthful players who will front up against the Lions, as they complete their preparations for the upcoming season.
Veteran Springbok flyhalf Steyn will face South African opposition for the first time in seven seasons and lead a backline containing three Springboks and a Blitzbok, in Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Ivan van Zyl and Rosko Specman.
The forwards also boast international experience with Scotland-capped No 8 Josh Strauss controlling the back of the scrum and Springbok lock Juandre Kruger powering the engine room.
The replacements bench is loaded with international quality such as Embrose Papier, Dylan Sage and Tim Agaba. Fans can also expect to see several exciting young players like loose-forward Muller Uys, who has been named to start in the seven jersey. Former Maties flyhalf Chris Smith together with Ryno Pieterse will also look to add impact off the bench.
The Super Hero Sunday clash will kick off at 3:15pm.
Meanwhile, a Vodacom Blue Bulls XV will also face the Lions in a pre-season warm-up match on Loftus B field on Friday, 17 January. Kick-off is scheduled for 2pm.
Vodacom Bulls squads to face the Lions:
Bulls – 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Johnny Kotze, 13. Cornal Hendricks, 12. Burger Odendaal (c), 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Josh Strauss, 7. Muller Uys, 6. Wian Vosloo, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Ryno Pieterse, 20. Ruan Nortje/Jean Droste, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Divan Rossouw, 24. Dylan Sage, 25. Manie Libbok, 26. Jeandre Rudolph, 27. Abongile Nonkontwana, 28. Tim Agaba.
Blue Bulls XV: 15. Richard Kriel, 14. Jade Stighling, 13. Marnus Potgieter,12. Franco Naude, 11. Sebastiaan Jobb, 10. David Coetzer, 9. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8. Ewan Coetzee, 7. Adre Smith, 6. Ruan Steenkamp (c), 5. Jean Droste, 4. Ian Groenewald, 3. Madot Mabokela, 2. Louis van der Westhuizen, 1. Dayan van der Westhuizen.
Replacements: 16. Corniel Els, 17. Kudzwai Dube, 18. Eduan Swart, 19. Carl Els, 20. Janko Swanepoel, 21. Jaco Labuschangne, 22. Phillip Potgieter, 23. Keagan Johannes, 24. Vaughen Isaacs, 25. Dawid Kellerman, 26. Diego Appollis, 27. Jay-Cee Nel.
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter
