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Bulls make 14 changes for Stormers clash

Article Published: Wednesday 12 May 2010

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Springbok lock Bakkies Botha will captain a side for the first time in 12 years when he leads the Bulls in their Super 14 rugby match against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, has retained only Jacques-Louis Potgieter from the side that started against the Crusaders last weekend which means that they are 14 changes for this match.

Potgieter moves from centre to his preferred position of flyhalf for the match.

The side includes two newcomers to Super 14 rugby in Sevens Springbok Deon Helberg and Gerrit-Jan van Velze, with two former Stormers players also making their debut for the Bulls in this competition.

They are former Springbok De Wet Barry and fullback Tiger Mangweni.

Barry played for Eastern Province but trained with the Bulls as they prepared for the season.
 
He was, however, not needed for the Super 14 side until now.

The controversial decision to send in what is effectively the Bulls B-side for the match, has upset overseas teams who are fighting it out for semi-final places this weekend.

The Bulls, who cannot be dislodged from first place on the log, could afford to rest their first choice players.
 
"We have respect for the other sides in the competition," said Ludeke, "but we have to run our own race.

"Some of the guys rested for Saturday get their first break in the competition. There are also some of them with niggles and Gerhard van den Heever is suspended.

"I can assure you, we are going to Newlands to be competitive."

That they will surely be, with 562 Super caps in the starting lineup emphasising that this is not a team to be taken lightly.
 
Ludeke also refuted the view the team would lose momentum by resting top players.
 
"We saw in last year's Currie Cup that resting of top players can be advantageous."
 
Botha last captained a side in 1998 when he was SA Schools captain. "This isn't a B or C team," he said.

"We're playing the Stormers at Newlands and we feel as strong as any other Bulls team.

"It's a dream come true for many of the younger guys and they are hungry to show their class at this level .

The team have enough senior players who will have a calming influence on the youngsters, Botha said.

The Bulls team is:

Tiger Mangweni (9), Jaco van der Westhuyzen (51), Stephan Dippenaar (11), De Wet Barry (78), Deon Helberg* (0), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (29), Heini Adams (35), Pedrie Wannenburg (110), Gerrit-Jan van Velze(0)*, Derick Kuun (53), Bakkies Botha (capt) (85), Flip van der Merwe (16), Bees Roux (28), Bandise Maku (18), Jaco Engels (39).

Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle (18), Dean Greyling (2), Fudge Mabeta (1), Okkie Kruger (0)*, Ruan Snyman (0)*, Francois Brummer (0)*, Stefan Watermeyer (0)*.

*First Super 14 match.

 
 
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