Nic takes over as new era dawns
MITCHELL DECIDES AGAINST WIELDING THE AXE Jantjies keeps his place as Boshoff is included on bench for Pumas match.
Eighthman Nic de Jager is the new Blue Bulls captain as the embattled team heads off to Nelspruit to try and return to winning ways against what new Currie Cup head coach John Mitchell admits is a dangerous Pumas side tomorrow night.
Mitchell, the recently-appointed Executive of Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, is now the hands-on head coach of the Currie Cup team following the sidelining of Nollis Marais, who is on paid leave. And although the former All Blacks and Lions coach is known for making tough decisions, he has remained largely faithful to the Blue Bulls team that won their first two games in the competition but have now lost three in a row.
But the one major change Mitchell has made is to appoint the 27-year-old De Jager, a player who is only now starting to find some form, as captain.
“Nic has taken over the captaincy the last couple of weeks, so it’s just about continuity. Boom Prinsloo has been sick, so I just want to allow him to concentrate on his own game.
“Nic has led well and his game has improved in recent weeks, which shows he can handle leadership well and it helps his own performance. It’s important to have continuity, that’s the one way we’re going to become cohesive,” Mitchell said yesterday.
“The Pumas back themselves, they can play from 100m out, so they do express themselves. And they have older, more experienced guys in their forward pack, so if they get control and play the way they want to play, then they are a dangerous outfit.”
One player who would have been sweating over his selection was flyhalf Tony Jantjies, who had two conversions charged down last weekend as the Blue Bulls lost by one point to the Free State Cheetahs, but Mitchell has backed the 25-year-old, with new Springbok signing Marnitz Boshoff only earning a place on the bench.
“Kicking is important, but does it really win matches these days? You have to have the mindset to score five tries and Tony has shown tremendous enthusiasm and speed,” Mitchell said yesterday.
Warrick Gelant, Jamba Ulengo, Dries Swanepoel, JT Jackson, Kefentse Mahlo, Tony Jantjies, Andre Warner, Nic de Jager (capt), Jannes Kirsten, Boom Prinsloo, Ruben van Heerden, Abongile Nonkontwana, Conrad van Vuuren, Jan-Henning Campher, Lizo Gqoboka. Edgar Marutlulle, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Clyde Davids, Jano Venter, Piet van Zyl, Marnitz Boshoff, Johnny Kotze.
Bench: