Kriel ready to be Venter’s minder
VERSATILE BULLS STAR TO SHADOW SKIPPER Warrick Gelant slots in at No 15 against Cheetahs.
Versatile Bulls back Jesse Kriel has been tasked with containing Cheetahs captain Francois Venter in their Super Rugby match at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow.
One of the stars of their timely win over the Jaguares, Kriel moves from fullback to outside centre to replace the other resting Springbok, Jan Serfontein, who has confirmed he is leaving the Bulls at the end of Super Rugby to explore possibilities overseas.
Warrick Gelant will start at fullback in Kriel’s place.
Jacobie Adriaanse will make his first start for the Bulls since moving to the big city, replacing rested Springbok Trevor Nyakane.
Nyakane gave a superb allround display against the Jaguares, but is now due a compulsory rest according to the agreement the Bulls have with SA Rugby.
An unforced change to the starting line-up sees the more physical Jason Jenkins starting in the No 4 jersey, with RG Snyman coming off the bench.
Tian Schoeman replaces Handre Pollard at flyhalf after the Springbok pivot was ruled out for eight to 10 weeks with an ankle injury yesterday.
Bulls coach Nollis Marais said yesterday that he needed someone to counter slick Cheetahs No 13 Francois Venter.
“Whoever plays 13 will be up against Francois Venter, who is a very experienced man, and outside centre is a very difficult channel to defend. Jesse has plenty of experience there with both the Bulls and the Springboks, and Warrick is very good at 15 as well,” Marais said.
As far as Serfontein goes, Marais confirmed that the 24-year-old had made the call to go overseas despite being offered what the player himself described on social media as a “generous” dual contract from both the Bulls and SA Rugby.
“It’s difficult to keep a player like Jan in South Africa, we both offered him contracts but we just couldn’t compete with Europe. He thinks there are better opportunities for him outside the country,” Marais said.
French newspaper Midi Libre reported back in January that Serfontein had already signed a three-year contract with Montpellier.