The Bulls make their first appearance at fortress Loftus for the first time in 2010.
We haven’t been beaten at Loftus in 11 games, since the Hurricanes beat us in 2008. It’s a tough ask to win at Loftus, and it’ll be hard for the Brumbies on Saturday too.
In a late change, Springbok lock Danie Rousouw has been ruled out with a neck injury suffered at training, and Flip van der Merwe moves to the starting line-up with former SA under-21 lock Fudge Mabeta coming onto the bench.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has made two other changes from the side that won last week in Bloemfontein. Stephan Dippenaar (outside centre) gets a rare start with the injury to Jaco Pretorius Francois, whilst super utility Francois Hougaard (left wing) replaces John Mamesta after recent injury woes.
Both are young, products of the Western Cape (former Paul Roos students) and the future of the Bulls. Hougaard has a tough ask filling Bryan Habana’s shoes, whilst Dippenaar takes on Wallaby Stirling Mortlock in his biggest test to date.
“We’ve got confidence in Dippenaar. He’s a very talented player and we have all the confidence in his abilities. When he looks around he will see there are a lot of old heads around him to back him, so there is no reason for him not to make a difference on Saturday” said Bulls coach Ludeke.
“This is it for me. I have been waiting in the wings and now get the chance to stake a claim. The fact that I will be playing against Stirling Mortlock certainly makes it more special. He is one of the best there is and a fantastic way to measure where I am in my career” said an enthused Dippenaar.
Pedrie Wannenburg also has the honour of playing his 100th Super rugby game for the Bulls. Remarkably it will be the 86th consecutive game for the stalwart loose forward.
“To get to a situation like this you have to be a special player and have good mental capacity to handle the challenges of the game. The nice thing is that he still has other dreams to pursue” Ludeke said.
Wannenburg is a tireless workhorse and re-iterated what it meant to play so many games for such a great side.
“It’s an unbelievable privilege to get there and to pull a Bulls jersey over my head. I’m one of the few who have got there, but it is not something I’m focusing on this weekend. My focus is on doing what I can to help the team achieve its goal” said Wannenburg.
“There are a couple of games that stand out, obviously my first game for the Bulls. Then all the finals we played together as a team. Also the 92-3 over the Reds was excellent. There are a couple of games I can look back at and realise those are special moments in my career. As for the 100th game, it’s very difficult to say how this ranks, but it is definitely a milestone that you get to” continued Wannenburg.
The Bulls are primed and ready for a big showing. They’re rejuvenated after last season’s success, and last week showed they have the ability to be flexible in their approach, and create tries.
The Brumbies only arrived in Pretoria on Wednesday. It’s a tough ask to come to altitude and only have 3 days to prepare. Hopefully they’ll feel the effects in the second half!
The danger will be if the Brumbies retain possession for long periods, take the ball through the phases and wear the Bulls down. However with the best lineout in the competition, and a beefed up scrum, the Bulls victory should start with a dominant forward effort.
Morne Steyn will kick well, as will Stirling Mortlock, but it may be the Bulls back three who can win this game if they get good go forward from a great loose trio.
Go Bulle Go!
Vodacom Bulls:
1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Flip van der Merwe
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmaan
7. Pedrie Wannenburg
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Stephan Dippenaar
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner
16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Fudge Mabeta
19. Derick Kuün
20. Heini Adams
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. John Mametsa
Brumbies:
1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Justin Harrison
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Rock Elsom
7. George Smith
8. Stephen Hoiles (c)
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Pat McCabe
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper
16. Huia Edmonds
17. Guy Shepherdson
18. Ben Hand
19. Mitchell Chapman
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Matt Toomua
22. Tyrone Smith
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Previous Super 14 results:
2006: Bulls 21, Brumbies 27 (Pretoria)
2007: Bulls 19, Brumbies 7 (Canberra)
2008:Bulls 28, Brumbies 17 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 31, Brumbies 32 (Canberra)
