Rugby
Bulls bring in reinforcements for Griquas semi-final─── MORGAN PIEK 07:30 Fri, 17 Jun 2022
The Springbok prop, Lizo Gqoboka, will captain the Bulls on Friday night when they tackle the Griquas in the first semi-final of the Currie Cup.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Reinhardt Ludwig and Marco Jansen van Vuren were all with the Bulls in Dublin last week and they will play in the semi-final.
Stedman Gans, who played at centre during their 35-5 defeat to the Toyota Cheetahs last week, has been moved to wing while Lionel Mapoe moves to outside centre.
The Bulls coach, Gert Smal, feels that they will have their work cut out for them against what will be a highly motivated Peacock Blues.
“It has been a highly competitive season of Currie Cup with no easy games. It now gets even tougher in the knockout stages, and we are expecting what could potentially be the toughest match so far when we go up against the Griquas on Friday.
“The Griquas are always motivated when they visit Loftus, and they will even be hungrier now that they are a step closer to the final.
“We have had to work hard this week following the defeat to the Cheetahs last weekend.
“We will need an improved performance. We hope to give our supporters something to smile about in what is a big weekend for the Bulls.”
Friday night’s semi-final at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:00.
Bulls – 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Tharquinn Manuel, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stedman Gans, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Ruan Delport, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).
Replacements - 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Willie Potgieter, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Niel Beukes, 23 Quewin Nortje.
Griquas – 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Zander du Plessis, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements - 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Werner Gouws, 21 Fiela Boshoff, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Christopher Hollis.
