Nyakane return boost for Bulls
The Bulls are still bitterly disappointed with the way they played against the Stormers last weekend and there are four changes to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s crunch Super Rugby derby against the Sharks, but coach John Mitchell insisted yesterday that the changes are not form-related but have more to do with rotation.
While Trevor Nyakane was always expected to return at tighthead in place of Conraad van Vuuren, having recovered from the neck strain that forced him to withdraw from the Newlands game, Mitchell has also brought in Travis Ismaiel on the right wing for Divan Rossouw, Ivan van Zyl once again rotates with Andre Warner at scrumhalf, and Roelof Smit starts at openside flank, with Marco van Staden shifting to No 8 and Thembalani Bholi reverting to the bench.
“We were irritated by last week’s performance, we’re not happy with it. We were untidy, we played at 90% of our capability, which is not good enough in Super Rugby,” Mitchell said at Loftus Versfeld yesterday.
“But I believe in managing the load on the players, as well as watching their form. It’s not about selecting one guy and dropping the other, it’s about developing the player.
“Divan has been quite exceptional for someone so young to Super Rugby, but he has had huge loads and he’s in the middle of exams, so it’s important to manage him.
“Thembelani has had the same huge load because we were quite thin at loose forward, but Roelof has now got his foundation work in and can start.”
The return of Nyakane will be particularly important against the powerful Sharks pack and the Springbok will bring 88 caps worth of Super Rugby experience, alongside hooker Adriaan Strauss’ record tally of 153 appearances. That sort of experience can’t be purchased and will be vital in such a high-stakes, intense derby.
Ken Borland
Loose forward Philip van der Walt, who broke his nose against the Highlanders last weekend, has been replaced by hard man Jacques Vermeulen (left) in the Sharks’ starting line-up for their heavyweight Super Rugby clash with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow, coach Robert du Preez announced yesterday.
It is the only change to the starting line-up, with Du Preez obviously wanting to reward his players for a brilliant win over the Highlanders. There are two changes to the bench with Wian Vosloo coming in for Vermeulen and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle replacing Franco Marais.
“It’s great to have continuity but to lose Philip, with the way he was playing and his leadership qualities, is a big loss. But I know Jacques Vermeulen will give everything too,” Du Preez said.
Ralepelle is in line to play his 100th Super Rugby match if he comes to replace starting hooker Akker van der Merwe, who will want to boost his chances of Springbok selection with a strong performance against former national captain Adriaan Strauss, who must be Rassie Erasmus’s frontrunner to replace the injured Malcolm Marx.
Ralepelle has played most of his Super Rugby for the Bulls, earning 69 caps for them between 2006 and 2015, and Du Preez said that was a factor in his selection.
“We have three quality hookers and Chiliboy started a couple of weeks ago. We’re trying to rotate them and Chiliboy rested last week. This is his 100th game, against his old team, so I’m sure he will be massively motivated to do well. Franco has also been outstanding, he’s one of the leaders in the team and I would not hesitate to start him either,” Du Preez said.