Vodacom Blue Bulls - Pollard to make Loftus debut as Springbok
Pollard to make Loftus debut as Springbok
Junior Springbok captain Handré Pollard will get his second Test cap when he lines up next to returning national captain Jean de Villiers and debutant Damian de Allende when South Africa open their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday (kick-off 17h00).
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer moved Jan Serfontein, who had a very good series in June, to the bench as injury cover, with De Villiers and De Allende both returning from injuries, while Morne Steyn will provide back-up at flyhalf and fullback. “Jan was one of our best players in June, but Jean is our captain and was always going to return once he was fit again,” said Meyer.
“Handré also deserved another opportunity and it will be good to see how he combines with Jean and Damian. At lock, Lood de Jager will have to fill the considerable boots of the injured Victor Matfield, but he’ll have the experienced Bakkies Botha next to him. “It’s great to welcome back Jean, Willem, ‘Beast’, Eben and Frans, but I’m also very excited to see what Damian can do after he missed out on making his debut in June because of an injury,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. “Jean and Damian have played together before, albeit not this way around. But Damian has experience of playing outside centre from his junior days and he got his break at inside centre when he had to step up in Jean’s place. “Lood has improved a lot over the last couple of months and although it’s a big ask for him to fill the void left by Victor, I know he has the goods to deliver. He will be well-supported by Duane Vermeulen in the line-outs though.” “We’re up against a formidable opponent on Saturday and we can’t take any chances or make experiments. The players know they have to be switched on mentally and physically, otherwise it could become a long afternoon at Loftus.” Pat Lambie will return to Durban on Wednesday to play for the Cell C Sharks in the Absa Currie Cup on Friday evening, when they host the Steval Pumas. Meyer said: “Pat missed four months of Vodacom Super Rugby and although he made his return towards the end of the competition, it was felt that he could do with game time this weekend before we leave for Argentina and we’d like to thank the Sharks for agreeing to give him a run.” The Springbok team to face Argentina in Pretoria is:
15. Willie le Roux 15 tests 35 points14. Cornal Hendricks 3 tests 10 points13. Damian de Allende 0 tests 0 points12. Jean de Villiers (captain) 96 tests 125 points 11. Bryan Habana 97 tests 275 points10. Handré Pollard 1 test 13 points 9. Ruan Pienaar 76 tests 130 points 8. Duane Vermeulen 19 tests 10 points7. Willem Alberts 32 tests 35 points6. Francois Louw 30 tests 25 points5. Lood de Jager 3 tests 10 points4. Bakkies Botha 79 tests 35 points3. Jannie du Plessis 54 tests 5 points2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) 60 tests 45 points1. Tendai Mtawarira 55 tests 10 pointsReplacements:16. Adriaan Strauss 34 tests 25 points17. Trevor Nyakane 4 tests 5 points18. Frans Malherbe 2 tests 0 points19. Eben Etzebeth 23 tests 0 points20. Marcell Coetzee16 tests 10 points21. Francois Hougaard 28 tests 20 points22. Morné Steyn 56 tests 660 points23. Jan Serfontein 12 tests 5 points
(13) Pollard to make Loftus debut as Springbok
Aug 13, 2014 at 02:15 PM
Wens al die spelers wat oorsee speel los hulle yt die span ons het genoeg talent los hulle daar!!!
Aug 13, 2014 at 02:54 PM
Een 'reserwe' Bulls-speler in die begin-15 van die Springbokke ...
Aug 13, 2014 at 03:19 PM
nie 1 bul voorspeler indie bokke se wedstryd 23 nie, maar ons wedstryd plan word uitgestippel as voorspeler dominansie en speel rondom 3de fase besit. Geen wonder ons kry niks reg nie.
Aug 13, 2014 at 05:00 PM
Ek stem saam met jou Francois. Spelers wat oorsee speel moet daar bly. Dit word te maklik gemaakvir hulle. Hulle verdien 'n moerse klomp geld en dan kry hulle nog Bok kontrakte ook. As Meyer slegs plaaslike manne kies, sal die ouens 2 keer dink voordat hulle oorsee gaan.
Ek dink nie die AB en Wallabies kies hulle spelers wat pad gevat het en in Europa en Japan gaan speel het nie.
Kan iemand in Europa nie ook vir Xander 'n kontrak aanbied nie of stuur hom Kaap toe. Hy kan snoek gaan vlek op die kaai. Peet
Aug 13, 2014 at 05:51 PM
Sterkte manne sien julle daar ek kan nie wag nie Franscois
Aug 13, 2014 at 08:33 PM
Sal wat gee om die bok span soos volg te sien:
Aug 15, 2014 at 03:50 PM
Geluk Handre, die FL mafia sou in jou in elk geval nie laat CC speel nie hul hou nie van spelers wat op hul voete kan dink nie
Aug 15, 2014 at 11:43 PM
In Engels is daar 'n gesegde:
When things is getting tough, the tough gets going.
Hieruit, wat die Bulle aanbetref, sal ondersteuners wat sterk is in die kop die span ondersteun ongeag wat verkeerd loop.
Ligte koppe is grootmond en hardloop altyd.
Aug 16, 2014 at 01:13 AM
Ek hoop nie die tough gets going dat die Bulls moet promosie speel en in die proses met 'n leë Loftus sit nie.
Wat veral pla is dat die Bulle nie meer so tough lyk nie...we need the Bulls'toughness back.
So lets get it going at Newlands tmorrow you tough guys. Ek sal da wees om te cheer. Die enigste blou ou. Manie
Aug 16, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Stapper : When the going gets tough...the tough gets going!! Dis hoe hy eintlik klink....
Aug 16, 2014 at 08:06 PM
Kan ek maar hier kommentaar lewer op die Bulle se pragspel vanmiddag?? Welgedaan Frans Ludeke. Ek sien julle bou en verbeter elke week. Maggies maar ons het darem die WP `n goeie "go" gegee vandag!! Julle het darem seker weer baie geleer uit die game, en julle gaan seker weer hard werk hierdie week. Ek wil maar net sê baie sterkte man. Ek hoop regtig die afrigtingspan en bestuur behaal sommer gou julle 2014 doelwitte. Dit is mos om Bul rugby finaal dood te maak ne?? Of verstaan ek nou verkeerd? Mynhardt Le Roux
Frans het seker maar probleme by die huis dit is hoekom hy die week se werk eerder op Sondagaand wil probeer doen.
Ongelukkig is dit nie net die bestuur en afrigters wat swak is nie, die spelers kry 'n mase pak en die glimlagte is groter as die wenners se glimlagte.
Die "skills" ontbreek asook die nodige breinkrag. kyk maar die vernedering van die 7's osse die naweek. WP skop die bal VIER (4) keer oor die osse se koppe en druk drie drieë sonder dat ons iets daaraan doen.
Magtag watse k-k naweek was dit nie, skuus watse k-k jaar, ekskuus watse k-k paar jaar is dit nie vir die osse nie.
Aug 18, 2014 at 09:02 PM
Ons gaan nog vir Pollard verloor. So goeie speler kan nie by so 'n patetiese span bly nie. Iets groots is fout!! Afrigter??? Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *