Strauss returns in Marais’ final squad

Change has been put on hold – at least in terms of the players – at Loftus Versfeld as Adriaan Strauss (right) will return as captain and Tian Schoeman will be at flyhalf for their Super Rugby match, their last before the June break, against the Hurricanes in Pretoria tomorrow.

In making his final team selection for the Bulls, axed coach Nollis Marais yesterday recalled Strauss at hooker and returned the captaincy to him, having spent the last fortnight extolling the virtues of No 8 Hanro Liebenberg as the man to lead the team forward.

Schoeman will also be the starting flyhalf in the absence of the injured Francois Brummer, even though Marais has praised the different attacking strengths of Tony Jantjies.

“Adriaan was injured and now comes back and Francois was injured last week, so I’ve decided to go with the more experienced Tian and Tony can come on in the second half. It will be a tough game against the Hurricanes so I want to have more senior guys at the start. Tony is the future going forward, but I didn’t want to just throw him in under big pressure from the start,” Marais explained.

Other injury-enforced changes to the team see Warrick Gelant back at fullback as Jesse Kriel replaces concussed Sibahle Maxwane on the left wing, Duncan Mathews makes his debut on the right wing in place of Jade Stiglingh and Jacobie Adriaanse steps in as the starting tighthead prop for Trevor Nyakane, who is troubled by a shoulder injury.