Border ring changes for Bloem duel
Injuries and depth testing behind new approach
For the second game in a row, the Border Bulldogs will make six changes to their starting XV for their final SuperSport Rugby Challenge match of 2019 against the Free State XV at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.
The changes were made due to a mixture of injuries and testing out the depth of the Bulldogs squad ahead of the Currie Cup First Division competition kicking off next month.
A shoulder injury to lock Athenkosi Khetani and hamstring strains to flank Onke Dubase and flyhalf Aphiwe Stemele see them drop out of the match 22. Other changes include hooker Vuyisani Mavuso and leftwing Lelethu Gcillitshana, who miss out due to rotational changes. Prop Thabo Ntunja drops to the bench.
The six are replaced by lock Lwando Nthetha, flank Naythan Knoetze, flyhalf Lwando Mapuko, hooker Lubabalo Lento, left-wing Asithandile Mrubata and prop Masonwabe Ngcem.
“Athenkosi's shoulder injury unfortunately made him unavailable, but we could have pushed for Aphiwe and Onke to possibly play off the bench, but we decided not to risk them with this our last match and the Currie Cup coming up in a few weeks,” explained Bulldogs coach Tiger Mangweni.
“Naythan played well off the bench last weekend, so I am happy to give him a chance to start, while it is good to have Mapuko back from injury and Nthetha also gets a chance to start for us again.
“With Thabo, Vuyisani and Lelethu we know exactly what we get with them and those are positions we thought we need to test our depth with, so Masonwabe, Lubabalo and Asithandile all get a chance to show us what they can do.”
The Bulldogs head into the Free State match off of a heartbreaking 18-17 defeat against the South Western District Eagles in their last outing, where they led for most of the match before the home side took the lead with seven minutes remaining and managed to hold on.
Despite the loss it was an encouraging return to form after the Bulldogs had suffered three massive defeats in their previous three games.
“Even now I still think about that game, we threw the game away. We had played so well in the first half and then let them come back in the second, so it was very disappointing to lose a game we should have won, but I am happy that we improved a lot from our previous games,” admitted Mangweni.
“But now we have to move on, we are fully focused on the Free State match and the guys want to put in a good performance to end off the competition. The Bulldogs v Free State match kicks off at 2.30pm on Saturday.
Bulldogs team is:
We decided not to risk them with this our last match and the Currie Cup coming up
Tiger Mangweni
Bulldogs coach
Yanga Xakalashe; Lubabalo Lento, Masonwabe Ngcem, Lwando Nthetha, Ayabonga Nomboyo; Naythan Knoetze, Billy Dutton (capt) Sokuphumla Xakalashe, Yongama Mkaza, Lwando Mapuko, Asithandile Mrubata, Sethu Tom, Sonwabiso Mqalo, Siphosenkosi Nofemele, Litha Nkula. Replacements:
Bubele Gongqa, Thabo Ntunja, Mihlali Mosi, Siyanda Am, Bangihlombe Kobese, Luxolo Abraham, Lonwabo Ntleki.