Currie Cup: Blue Bulls - Lions @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (06-08-2011, 16:05 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (06-08-2011, 16:05 GMT)

An 80 minute effort will be needed at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon if the MTN Golden Lions are going to beat their neighbours from across the Jukskei River in the Absa Currie Cup Gauteng-derby.

As one of only three unbeaten teams in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, the MTN Golden Lions face their toughest challenge to date when they travel to Pretoria to play a Vodacom Blue Bulls side bolstered by the return of seven Springboks. This includes a full Bok front row in Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Dean Greyling.

The Golden Lions have included their solitary Springbok, flyhalf Elton Jantjies, in their side that will travel to Pretoria.

Johan Ackermann, forwards coach of the MTN Golden Lions, realises it won’t be an easy match, even though the Blue Bulls lost heavily to DHL Western Province in Cape Town last weekend.

Ackermann had this to say about the upcoming derby: “If we play as well as we can we can do it, regardless of the resistance we get. It is definitely a plus for the Bulls to have those players back, but it will also motivate us to give a good performance.

“We tend to have lapses in concentration in games. If you want to beat the Bulls you have to play for 80 minutes â€" especially when they’re back against the wall. But our main challenge is just to keep our own game at a high standard.â€

Vodacom Blue Bulls vs MTN Golden Lions1
Date: Saturday, 6 August
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
31 July: Vodacom Blue Bulls won 32-18 in Johannesburg
18 September: Vodacom Blue Bulls won 24-21 in Pretoria


* vBookie odds supplied by Bwin

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Blue Bulls team: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. Stefan Watermeyer, 12. Francois Venter, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Francois Brummer, 9. Dustin Jinka, 8. CJ Stander, 7. Dewald Potgieter (captain), 6. Derick Kuun, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dean Greyling.

Replacements: 16. Gary Botha, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Fudge Mabeta, 19. Deon Stegmann, 20. Lohan Jacobs, 21. Marntiz Boshoff, 22. Stephan Dippenaar.

Lions: 15. Michael Killian, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Lionel Mapoe, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Joshua Strauss (captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Jacobie Adriaanse, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Patric Cilliers, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Warren Whiteley, 20. Rudy Paige, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Jaco Taute.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

6 Springboks that are back, are used in the starting line-up for the Bulls, with nr. 7 on the bench. I guess the losses to the Sharks and Western Province disrupted the management and unlike those 2 unions, the full artillery is used. The Sharks will have most returning Springboks on the bench.

 

[LPsoldier ZA]

Basson ruled out due to concussion...Dippenaar takes his place on the wing.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Bulls-receive-late-setback-20110804