Kriel return has coach salivating
BONUS: HUMAN RESHUFFLES BACKLINE TO MAKE ROOM
The availability of Springbok centre Jesse Kriel is a major boost for the Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban tomorrow, but so too is the return of experienced hooker Jaco Visagie.
While Kriel, who made the last of his nine Currie Cup appearances in 2014, has the added motivation of playing himself back into the Springbok match-day squad, Visagie is fit again after missing the opening weekend of Currie Cup action due to a knee injury. The other change to the Blue Bulls starting XV that saw off the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein sees lock Hendre Stassen come in for Ruben van Heerden, who is still suffering the effects of a concussion. That change may have been made anyway because the Bulls have been counting down the days until the return of Stassen after the 20-year-old missed most of Super Rugby due to injury.
“Jesse asked me last Monday whether it would be possible to join us and initially we thought he just wanted to practice but he has brought such an unbelievable attitude and spirit. I believe he’s the best number 13 in South Africa and I know he’s eager to go out and show it on Saturday,” Blue Bulls coach Pote Human said yesterday.
“Jaco Visagie is also very hungry and I’m sure he will bring something special as well, while Hendre Stassen coming in at four is also hungry and eager to prove a point. I’m excited by that lock pairing because Ruan Nortje was unbelievable last weekend, he made the most hits and he was everywhere,” the coach added.
The Kriel bonus has caused Human to shuffle his backline, with Johnny Kotze moving to inside centre and JT Jackson shifting to the bench, where he replaces Earll Douwrie.
Eli Snyman fills the space on the bench vacated by Stassen, while the 30-year-old hooker Edgar Marutlulle is among the replacements instead of Jan-Henning Campher.
Theo Maree, the nippy scrumhalf from Limpopo, has suffered a quad contusion and his absence provides the opportunity for the debut off the bench of Reagan Oranje, the Blue Bulls U-21 halfback.