Body feels young, says veteran Bulls star

TIM Agaba was raised in the Eastern Cape after being born in Uganda, and having played for Eastern Province and the Southern Kings a few years ago, he knows the mindset that the Bulls can prepare for in Sunday’s Preparation Series clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (3pm kick-off).

“It’s pretty difficult to try and read or study them, because we haven’t seen them play for quite some time, and things have changed a lot there, I’m guessing,” the former BlitzBok star said this week.

“But generally, Eastern Cape sides – Border included – play a sort of running brand of rugby, so I think we can expect that.

“Typically, they will probably play a game opposite that the Bulls play.

“But we won’t rest on that. We will prepare accordingly and execute what we can, and apply ourselves in terms of our plan, and not concern with what they will bring.”

Indeed, new EP Elephants coach Peter de Villiers picked a largely unknown side yesterday, although the captain chosen is former Sharks flyhalf Inny Radebe.

Openside flank CJ Velleman is the only other player who has featured at Super Rugby or Currie Cup Premier Division level before, so the men from Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) are sure to feel the heat when they come up against a number of Springboks and junior internationals from the Bulls.

However, that doesn’t mean that the Pretoria side have nothing to play for, and especially in Agaba’s case.

Regular captain and No 8 Duane Vermeulen has been sidelined for a few weeks after a knee operation, and coach Jake White is likely to rest most of his first-choice players ahead of the Rainbow Cup starting in mid-April.

So Sunday’s game and the rest of the Preparation Series provides Agaba – who can also operate as a blindside flank – with a chance to push for a starting spot after watching mainly from the sidelines last season.

“Just trying to get a spot in the team is quite difficult – obviously the calibre of player that I have to outplay to get a consistent spot in the team is quite difficult at the moment,” the 31-year-old loose forward said.

“Considering my age, I’m not the youngest … But my body feels pretty young, at least.

“I don’t take it for granted that I’ll automatically fill that position, but of course, with Duane being injured, it does give someone an opportunity to step up and show their worth.

“If that person is me, I’d grab that with both hands and try to solidify a reasonable place in the team.”

EP ELEPHANTS

Starting XV: 15 Riaan Arendse, 14 Josiah Twum-Boafo, 13 Christopher Hollis, 12 Sherwin Slater, 11 Qeutyne Oerson 10 Inny Radebe (capt), 9 Luvo Claasen, 8 Luigi van Jaarsveld, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Mncedisi Diwengu, 4 Athenkosi Manenze, 3 Lupumlo Mguca, 2 Robin Stevens, 1 Lyle Lombard

Replacements: 16 Sithembiso Befile, 17 Siyakubonga Nzuzo, 18 Emile Klassen, 19 Ronald Sheckle, 20 Arnold Kleyne, 21 Diego Williams, 22 Josh Allderman, 23 Keanu Vers