Border pull in their backstops
A number of injuries have forced the Border Bulldogs to make five changes to their starting 15 for their SuperSport Rugby match against the South Western District Eagles in George on Friday.
Injuries to eighthman Athenkosi Manentsa, flyhalf Lwando Mapuko and centre Lonwabo Ntleki has seen them all drop out of the match 22.
And prop Blake Kyd, who has started every match for the Bulldogs, will get a bit of a rest as he plays off the bench, while scrumhalf Bangihlombe Kobese was brought back into the side from injury too soon and will also look to impress off the bench this week.
They are replaced by prop Yanga Xakalashe, loose-forward Sokuphumla Xakalashe, scrumhalf Yongama Mkaza, and fullback Litha Nkula, with Sonwabiso Mqalo shifting to outside centre.
“Yanga Xakalashe has been playing really well recently, so we felt he deserved a chance to start and, with Blake being one of our stalwarts, we know exactly what he brings and decided we should give him a bit of a break,” said Bulldogs coach Tiger Mangweni.
“Sokuphumla coming in is a like for like change. He is a similar player to Manentsa, but we have moved Billy to eighthman and put Sokuphumla at seven.
“With Bangi (Kobese) we may have brought him back too soon. He struggled a bit against the Sharks, and we felt we should move him to the bench this week and give him a bit more time to recover, while Yongama played very well when he came on last week, so was due a start.
“Stemele has been our main flyhalf this season, so he just slots straight back in, and at centre Mqalo played well there when he came on for Ntleki last weekend, so we thought it was good to move him there this week, and I believe Nkula will play well coming in at fullback for another start.”
The Bulldogs will hope the changes reinvigorate the team as they head into the match on a dreadful run of form that has seen them thumped in their last three matches, 82-24 against the Sharks, 52-3 against the Eastern Province Elephants and 52-0 against Boland Cavaliers.
“It has been a very tough last few games. Our defence just has not been there, especially our one-on-one tackles so that is something that we have to improve on,” said Mangweni.
“Against the Sharks we were very flat in the first half, we were chasing the match from the first few minutes and by halftime the game was already over.
“But we improved a lot in the second half, which was very encouraging for me, and I want the guys to play like they did in the second half of that match when they play SWD.”
The team leaves for George on Thursday morning, and meet Eagles on Friday at 7pm.
Bulldogs team: Yanga Xakalashe; Vuyisani Mavuso, Thabo Ntunja, Athenkosi Khetani, Ayabonga Nomboyo; Onke Dubase, Sokuphumla Xakalashe; Billy Dutton (capt), Yongama Mkaza, Aphiwe Stemele, Lelethu Gcillitshana, Sethu Tom, Sonwabiso Mqalo, Siphosenkosi Nofemele, Litha Nkula.
Reserves: Lubabalo Lento, Blake Kyd, Siyanda Am, Naythan Knoetze, Bangihlombe Kobese, Asithandile Mrubata, Monwabisi Mkwakhwi