Engelbrecht to make Blue Bulls debut
Utility back JJ Engelbrecht will make his debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Saturday when they face DHL Western Province in an Absa Currie Cup match in Cape Town.
Engelbrecht, a former WP player, was released from the Springbok squad this week.
He will play on the wing, where he replaces Clayton Blommetjies, who slots in at fullback.
Blommetjies takes over from Jurgen Visser, who moves to the bench in place of Ulrich Beyers.
Up front, coach Pine Pienaar made one forced change, with Warwick Tecklenburg replacing the injured Arno Botha on the bench.
"We got good momentum out of the Sharks game and dare not to lose that again," Pienaar said after he named his team on Wednesday.
"There are few challenges as huge as beating WP at Newlands, but one that we want to embrace.
"Last week our preparations were severely disrupted by the flu virus, but this time we have trained well and worked hard.
"I am confident that we will travel down to Cape Town well prepared."
Pienaar was keen to have Engelbrecht in the team.
"I was very happy to hear that I could select him," Pienaar said.
"He has shown what a great player he is already and I am looking forward to his contributions to the Blue Bulls as well."
Dewald Potgieter will captain the side in his 50th Currie Cup appearance for the Bulls.
"Personally it is a nice milestone, but collectively it will only mean something if the team can deliver on Saturday and come up with a good performance," Potgieter said.
"We need to maintain the standards set last week and try to improve on those. That will be the main focus for us."
Vodacom Blue Bulls team: Clayton Blommetjies, Akona Ndungane, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, JJ Engelbrecht, Louis Fouche, Ruan Snyman, Dewald Potgieter (capt), CJ Stander, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Willie Wepener, Dawie Steyn.
Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Frik Kirsten, Cornell Hess, Warwick Tecklenburg, Rudy Paige, Lionel Cronje, Jürgen Visser.
