Bulls reshuffle for clash with Griquas

The Vodacom Bulls have made a number of significant revisions to their squad for their Carling Currie Cup match against Suzuki Griquas on Sunday, with a total of 12 changes from the team that took the field against Boland last weekend.

Most are necessitated by a mounting injury list, not least in midfield where the team will put out a different pairing for the fifth time in as many matches.

In the starting 15, five players have been shuffled. At hooker, Esethu Mnebelele, who was on the bench last week, has been promoted to the starting lineup in place of Juann Else. A former SA Schools captain and member of the champion Junior Springboks, the 19-year-old has impressed in training.

“He’s very exciting and gets his first start at Currie Cup level,” said coach Phiwe Nomlomo, who is nothing if not pragmatic about selection.

“We want as much continuity as we can get and although we came into the competition battle-hardened, we must also service the URC team and the Under-21s. We get that. And then there are injuries too but we must adapt.”

The tight five also sees Sintu Manjezi shift from the flank to start at lock, taking over from Jaco Grobbelaar. Dylan de Leeuw steps in for Marvin Orie, who suffered an injury during the week.

The Manjezi change opens up the No 7 jersey for Junior Pokomela, who comes off the bench to join the starting loose trio. In the backline, SA Under-20 star Cheswill Jooste moves up from the bench to the starting side, filling the right wing position.

The replacements’ bench also features six new faces. The promotion of Mnebelele and Pokomela, along with the inclusion of Letebele and Jooste in the run-on side, created several opportunities.

Shaun Schurmann comes in as the replacement hooker and Simphiwe Matanzima takes the place of Lizo Gqoboka as the reserve prop.

In the forwards, Marco Ferreira retains his spot on the bench. Following Orie’s withdrawal, there is an interesting addition to the replacements with Josh Strauss answering an SOS call, which illustrates the combined effect of injuries plus URC and junior callups.

The backline replacements are Liam Koen and PA van Niekerk, completing the matchday squad for the 3pm fixture at Tuine Grizzlies Rugby Club.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Stravino Jacobs, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi; 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger; 8 JJ Theron, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (capt); 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Sintu Manjezi; 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Ruan Swart. Replacements: 16 Shaun Schurmann, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Josh Strauss, 20 Marco Ferreira, 21 Brooklyn Newman, 22 Liam Koen, 23 PA van Niekerk.

Suzuki Griquas starting XV: 15Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurshwin Wehr; 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams; 8 Carl, Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen; 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius; 3 Cebo Dlamini (capt), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Athenkosi Khethani, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, 23 Connor Mahoney.

Vodacom Bulls v Suzuki Griquas - Sunday @ Grizzly Park, Pretoria (3pm)

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Broadcast: SuperSport