Injuries force Bulls revamp for Kavaliers clash

Injuries might have forced Vodacom Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s hand but he continues to juggle mercury in his bid to blend youth and experience.

With injuries to form man Jeandre Rudolph, Chris Smit and prop Dylan Smith, Nomlomo’s squad for this weekend’s Carling Currie Cup fixture against the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers looks very different to what came before.

Five of the pack, including the entire front row, are in their 20s but the return of captain Nama Xaba from injury, plus the wiles of lock pair Sintu Manjezi and Marvin Orie adds a steel the pack will require away from home. In all, there are 12 under-21s in the squad, seven of them starting this weekend.

“Every game is a massive test from now,” said Nomlomo, conceding how last week’s defeat to the Pumas had put them on the backfoot.

He said Sunday’s fixture had more piquancy because the opposition are “our brothers from the other side”, based on dual shareholders. If anything, the outcome is likely to determine just who is the big brother in the relationship.

Nomlomo said the Bulls would be ready for the conditions and atmosphere in Wellington.

“The weather will do what it does; if it’s windy or wet, we have to adjust. We’ve got players who grew up in Boland and know what the environment is like when the crowd gets going. They’ve even got a band and horses there now – it’s busy – so we need to be ready for everything.”

In other significant selections, 20-year-old JJ Theron comes in at No 8 while Boeta Chamberlain returns to flyhalf and Stravino Jacobs slots in at fullback.

Demitre Erasmus, another member of the SA under-20s, starts at outside centre with Aphiwe Dyantyi, a late withdrawal last weekend, back in harness on the left wing.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting XV: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell; 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder; 8 Thurlow Marsh (capt), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Ludio Williams; 5 Ameer Hendricks, 4 Michael Benadie; 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Wayrin Losper, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Stravino Jacobs, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi; 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger; 8 JJ Theron, 7 Sintu Manjezi, 6 Nama Xaba (capt); 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar; 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Juann Else, 1 Ruan Swart. Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Brooklyn Newman, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cheswill Jooste.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Vodacom Bulls - Sunday @ Sanlam Boland Stadium, Wellington (3pm)

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby