Young Bulls XV aim to finish Currie Cup campaign with purpose

The Vodacom Bulls XV will wrap up their Currie Cup campaign this weekend against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at Kings Park, naming a squad that clearly outlines the franchise’s investment in the future.

While results on the scoreboard have been unforgiving in a winless campaign, the reality behind the numbers reflects a massive developmental effort. The match-day 23 features 13 players eligible for the Under-21 ranks, including starting flyhalf Ian van der Merwe and winger Ruan Enslin, who both make their senior provincial debut. Their inclusion brings the total number of players who have made their Vodacom Bulls XV debuts during this campaign to an extraordinary 29, with the average age of the squad for Durban sitting at just 21.5 years.

Head coach Phiwe Nomlomo has faced an arduous task managing a young squad through a demanding competition, yet the camp remains fully focused on performance without leaning on context as an excuse.

“We aren’t in the business of making excuses, and we know what the results look like. It is what it is,” said Nomlomo.

“The reality is we’ve blooded a massive amount of young talent under tough conditions, but when we step out onto the field in Durban, our mindset doesn’t change. We are giving it our absolute best shot, we are going there to win, and we expect every guy wearing the jersey to fight for the result from the first minute to the last.”

Facing a formidable Sharks side on home soil, the young Vodacom Bulls XV head into the season finale on Friday (7.15pm) with everything to gain as they look to sign off their campaign with a performance built on grit and character.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Aka Boqwana, 14 Ruan Enslin, 13 Marnus Rademeyer, 12 Christiaan Vlok, 11 Riyaad Bam; 10 Ian Van der Merwe, 9 Keagan Johannes (capt); 8 Chinedu Amadi, 7 Cephas van Biljon, 6 Kebotile Maake; 5 Heinrich Theron, 4 Johnathan Eloff; 3 Arno Gustafson, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Sandi Msengana. Replacements: 16 Jaundrè Schoeman, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Duwan Potgieter, 19 Jacques Swarts, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Dieter Schubert, 22 Brooklyn Newman, 23 Lavela Pongolo.