Smit itching to be back in action
WELCOME RETURN: FLANK TO START AGAINST STORMERS
Mitchell picks strong combination for Wellington game.
Former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw used to famously pounce on every half-opportunity he had to steal or slow down ball at the rucks and Bulls flank Roelof Smit, whose nickname is “McCaw”, will similarly want to seize the day when he gets to start in the warm-up match against the Stormers in Wellington tomorrow.
With the Bulls boasting considerable loose forward stocks, Smit is, in a sense, starting at a disadvantage because he has been off the field for 18 months after tearing his pectoral muscle on the Springbok tour at the end of 2016, and then his MCL ligament in his knee just eight minutes into his comeback for the Blue Bulls in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge last year.
But the 25-year-old is highly rated and clearly did enough during his 35 minutes off the bench against the Sharks in Polokwane last weekend for Bulls coach John Mitchell to give him a starting berth this weekend, along with fellow Springbok tourist RG Snyman.
“We’re on a different timeline to every other South African team because we only start on February 24, so our focus now is on developing 28 players and then getting to 23 for the first match. Last week we played mainly young guys who now have closure on the level and intensity of the competition. We’re flipping the team around this weekend and will bring more experience in,” Mitchell said yesterday.
With Mitchell expected to pick close to his best 23 for their final warm-up match, against the Jaguares in Pretoria on February 10, there are still some “babies” in the team this weekend, with fullback Divan Rossouw and lock Ruben van Heerden keeping their places.
Andell Loubser, the U21 prospect, and 23-year-old Duncan Matthews will be the wings, while 24-year-old Andre Warner will be the starting scrumhalf, with 22-year-old Conraad van Vuuren wearing the No 3 jersey.