Advertisement

Bulls surprise with Kotze on the wing

rugby13 February 2019 14:17| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
Share
article image
Johnny Kotze © Gallo Images

Vodacom Bulls coach Pote Human surprised with a choice at wing, but named as close to his strongest available side to face the DHL Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Human chose a side with 10 Springboks for the clash but surprised with the selection of Johnny Kotze at wing for the clash against their arch rivals.

Rosko Specman has been included on the other wing, with Cornal Hendricks missing out on selection.

Kotze, who normally plays in the midfield, has been used successfully on the wing in the past and Human has the fullest confidence in him.

“Johnny as we all know is a great player, just his work-rate and his toughness, he had an awesome year for us last year and that is why we are giving him the nod. A guy like Cornal is just a bit unfortunate, he needs a little bit more game time, and he hasn’t played a lot in the last four years. He will get there, he will get his chance, but I am happy with Johnny Kotze there,” he explained at the team announcement.

Embrose Papier gets the nod ahead of fellow Bok Ivan van Zyl while Duane Vermeulen is joined by Hanro Liebenberg, the former SA under-20 captain and Ruan Steenkamp in the loose trio.

With Marco van Staden out and Roelof Smit still needing another fortnight of rehabilitation before he can take the field, Stoney Steenkamp gets his chance to shine.

“Emmy proved in the warm-up games he is really in form and that is why we went for him. He was also the last Bok scrumhalf and played well. On the loose forwards, you could pick any of those. Guys like Tier Schoeman, Tim Agaba, Jannes Kirsten. Anyone could be in the team but I decided on that. (Thembelani) Bholi also had a good season, I just decided that Hanro has experience and he can help Lood on the day.

“He (Liebenberg) can play lock as well, and played there in France. He is a very good seven and that could become his position. But saying that there is a lot of competition there as well.”

Schalk Brits was an early week scare with a calf strain, but passed a fitness test to take his place at hooker, while Corniel Els has fought back from injuries to finally get his chance for a Super Rugby debut off the bench this weekend.

“I was worried about him but he came through very well in training. He is tough and he will play on Saturday,” Human said of Brits.

Els is joined on the bench by Simphiwe Matanzima, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Eli Snyman and Dylan Sage, all who will make their debut for the Bulls if they take the field.. Matanzima sat on the bench in last season’s match against the Sunwolves in Singapore, but did not take to the field.

Van der Westhuizen represented the Southern Kings in the tournament before as a loan player to the Eastern Cape franchise, playing for them 11 times.

Lood de Jager will lead the team for the first time in the tournament and the lock will combine with Jason Jenkins. The duo last started a match together as the lock combination in March 2018 against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

"Recent history shows how formidable the Stormers have been. They have won seven of their last nine games against us, so will have more than enough confidence coming here. That said, we did beat them here last year, so if we apply what we trained, I firmly believe we can do that again."

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE: bulls.ticketpro.co.za

Vodacom Bulls (with caps and points): Warrick Gelant (34, 60), Johnny Kotze (34, 40), Jessie Kriel (61, 75), Burger Odendaal (43, 15), Rosko Specman (on debut), Handré Pollard (46, 437), Embrose Papier (10, 5), Duane Vermeulen (109, 40), Hanro Liebenberg (28, 15), Ruan Steenkamp (11, 0), Lood de Jager (c; 60, 25), Jason Jenkins (40, 35), Trevor Nyakane (91, 15), Schalk Brits (63, 20), Lizo Gqoboka (37, 10).

Replacements: Corniel Els (on debut), Simphiwe Matanzima (0, 0), Dayan van der Westhuizen (10, 0), Eli Snyman (on debut), Thembelani Bholi (30, 5), Ivan van Zyl (17, 0), Manie Libbok (8, 13), Dylan Sage (on debut).

Advertisement