Johannesburg - After playing off the bench in the defeat to the Cheetahs last weekend, Bulls boss Nollis Marais has recalled lock RG Snyman to his starting team and handed prop Lizo Gqoboka a start against the EP Kings on Friday.
Snyman, who was so impressive in the second row during the Bulls’ Super Rugby run earlier this season, had been suffering from an injury picked up while playing for the SA “A” side in June. He takes the place of Jason Jenkins, who now has a knee injury, this week.
Gqoboka comes back into the starting team at the expense of Pierre Schoeman as Marais looks to bank the five points on offer after his team’s unusually flat performance in going down to the Cheetahs last Saturday.
There is also a change in the backline where 22-year-old former Tuks star Duncan Matthews will make his first start in the Currie Cup proper after featuring in the qualification series. He takes the place of Ulrich Beyers.
Marais said the team was picked with a certain game plan in mind. “We have a certain way we want to play against the Kings,” said Marais yesterday. “They are unpredictable as a team, so we will have to be sharp and focused. And expect the unexpected.
“We will, however, make sure we play the way we want to play and execute well, rather than dwell too much on how the opposition will play.”
Bulls skipper Arno Botha said the team was looking for some consistency. They kicked off with a first round win against Western Province, but then fell to the Cheetahs.
“We certainly had a dip in standards last week. We are playing at home again and that brings an edge to any Bulls player, but we also have to be more consistent than last week. Soft moments certainly cost us in Bloemfontein. It went well in training, so we are keen to get back on the winning horse again.”
The match on Friday at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 7.20pm.
Team:
Bulls: Duncan Matthews, Jamba Ulengo, Burger Odendaal, Dan Kriel, Bjorn Basson, Tian Schoeman, Piet van Zyl, Arno Botha (capt), Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Etienne Swanepoel, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboko; Replacements: Edgar Maruthlulle, Pierre Schoeman, Jacobie Adriaanse, Irne Herbst, Hanro Liebenberg, Andre Warner, Joshua Stander.
The Star