SA latest – Bekker back, Bash still sidelined
8 Jun 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises.
Bekker back, Bash still sidelined – Andries Bekker will start against the Bulls but Peter Grant won’t be risked because of injury.
Bekker replaces Anton van Zyl in the second row, while the other change sees Deon Fourie starting at hooker. Dewaldt Duvenage is back from injury but will only feature from a bench that will see a 5/2 split. Both Frans Malherbe and Stephen Kitshoff are included among the reserves.
Grant didn’t run with the rest of the team at Wednesday’s session but has made progress with his ankle injury.
Stormers – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Stephen Kitshoff, 19 Anton van Zyl, 21 Nick Koster, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Bakkies, Du Preez ruled out – Bakkies Botha (knee) and Fourie du Preez (knee) will miss the Bulls’ crucial clash with the Stormers this Saturday.
Botha missed training on Tuesday and it’s been decided that he needs more time to recover from his injury. Unless the Bulls play the Stormers in the play-offs, Botha has played his last north-south derby, as he will take up a contract with French club Toulon after the World Cup.
Du Preez has been running at training but the Bulls have confirmed that he won’t be considered. The Bok scrumhalf tore ligaments in his knee three weeks ago and so the Bulls will not be rushing him back until he is ready.
Botha will be replaced by Danie Rossouw at lock while Francois Hougaard will continue to start at scrumhalf.
Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.
Alberts concern for Sharks – Willem Alberts is still battling a shoulder injury and could miss the Sharks’ must-win match against the Lions.
Alberts hurt his shoulder in last week’s game against the Cheetahs, and will face a late fitness test to determine his availability. Jannie du Plessis (knee) is another Sharks player in doubt for Saturday’s game.
Coach John Plumtree has confirmed that Odwa Ndungane (hand) will definitely miss out.
Meanwhile, centre Riaan Swanepoel has struck a short-term deal with French club Clermont. The 25-year-old will provide backline cover with France’s Aurelien Rougerie and Italy’s Gonzalo Canale set to attend the World Cup later this season. Swanepoel will play for Clermont from 11 July to 30 October.
13 Comments
8 Jun 2011, 07:35 am
pity….
8 Jun 2011, 07:36 am
also read that both F DU Preez and Bakkies would be fine for sharks game the next week…
8 Jun 2011, 08:21 am
I rek Willem Alberts needs a bit of a rest, his handling has been poor the last couple of games.
8 Jun 2011, 08:22 am
Its a pity the enforcer is out, I’d like to see a proper match up between the locks.
8 Jun 2011, 08:27 am
Bakkies won’t come to Newlands, he is s h i t scared, January said he was looking for revenge on Bakkies.
8 Jun 2011, 08:51 am
Alberts probably pulled a muscle trying to catch Ashley and Super Sarel!
8 Jun 2011, 09:29 am
Despite people always knocking the Cheetahs administration, it seems they are very quietly going about their business of securing their players. According to reports, Sarel Pretorius has agreed in principle to sign, and Phillip vd Walt has extended his contract by 2 years. We know Juan won’t be going anywhere, so we already have two very good 7 flanks signed. Think Johnson is also still contracted. Naka also looking at Boom prinsloo, which would be a fine signing. Coenie is also secured.
Hope Naka gets some back up for WP Nel, and another bruising lock in the Flip vd Merwe mould.
Things are looking up in Toyota country. The upside of all the injuries this year is that we have alot of young players that have had exposure to Super rugby! This team will be highly rated next year. Lets hope Naka and his team can also secure the services of the Ebersohn twins.
Think we will have a very young, but skilled team next year!
8 Jun 2011, 09:34 am
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-5:
mmm..
ja well no fine.
8 Jun 2011, 12:16 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-5: Hahahaha – no man its Aplon – looking to get Bakkies back for that dodgy “clean out” last season.
The Bulls are doing it as a caveat – they can always say “Stormers won cos it wasnt the best Bulls side” type of excuse…
8 Jun 2011, 12:38 pm
A South African whitewash will be much appreciated, Stormers! It won’t go down well, that’s for sure.
The homophobic slurs thrown the Stormers/Province direction will have a more than meaty response…
6-0.
8 Jun 2011, 13:31 pm
Got a feeling goalkicking could be what separates the Stormers and Bulls.
8 Jun 2011, 13:33 pm
O hope Deon Fourie gets his line out act together for Saturday. Maybe AC is playing Januarie, because Duvenage-Coleman didn’t work well? Anyway, none of the teams can claim injuries as an excuse for losing this one. Both teams have a few losses, but overall both teams are hurt equally. I hope Coleman performs.
Looking forward to Newlands, biggest league game of the frickin’ year. STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERSSSS!
8 Jun 2011, 14:04 pm
I hope the Anton Van Zyl rumors are true that he is heading back to JHB.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.