Fit duo boost for Blue Bulls

Centre Dries Swanepoel and wing Travis Ismaiel come back into the Blue Bulls starting line-up announced on Wednesday for their Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday, bringing some much-needed Super Rugby quality into the backline.

Swanepoel and Ismaiel have both fully recovered from injury and they replace Dan Kriel and Bjorn Basson respectively, with coach Nollis Marais hoping for some improved defence from a side that has conceded as many tries as they have scored.

“Travis and Dries picked up knocks in our first game against Western Province, but they’re ready now for our two big games against the Sharks and Lions over the next fortnight. They will strengthen our backline and it’s very good to have their experience back. We’ve scored 15 tries, but we’ve also conceded 15. So we’ve shown that we can play with the ball, but we’re just not accurate enough,” Marais said yesterday.

“If we lose momentum, throw inaccurate passes or not make good exits, then people can play from those turnovers, it gives them belief. It’s about game-management, not messing up lineouts inside the 22 or trying to throw a quick lineout when you’re five metres from your own line. We also need to fix our defence because we’ve dropped ourselves there,” Marais added.

The other change to the starting line-up sees former EP Kings prop Jacobie Adriaanse making his first start for the Blue Bulls, replacing Entienne Swanepoel at tighthead.