Springboks duo return to Bulls ahead of Lions clash

Springboks duo, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie return for the Bulls this weekend in a URC clash with the Lions.

The Bulls will be captained by Ruan Nortje as Jake White changes things up for another clash with the Lions.

“We must give ‘Cash’ [Ivan van Rooyen] some credit, he has done well with the conditioning of his team, they really get back up well. They are very good at understanding counterattacks because they do it so well. Their wingers are also good at closing their outside so well and so we will have to find a new way of getting through them,” White said.

“One thing about them is that they are very good.”

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SPRINGBOKS BACK AND BULLS RARING TO GO

White believes the side is playing for more than just solidifying their chances of playoffs but also building momentum in playing well in the later stages of the competitions.

“We are going to have to play well, almost our best rugby like it’s test rugby. The next two weekends are like trial runs for the big knockout games that are coming.

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“We have made one or two tweaks with our changes, not for any other we r reason but to continue learning who can play with whom because we are never going to have the same 23.”

Asked if the Lions were the surprise pick of the season, White said: “They have played well and together for a prolonged period, they have continuity and cohesion. They have managed to keep their squad together and Ivan van Rooyen is a conditioning expert so he probably knows how to keep his players fresh,” the coach added.

“The longer you keep a group together, the better they play.”

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LIONS CHANCES

Asked about the last matchup against the Lions and this trip to Johannesburg: “Sometimes you need those kinds of games (close results) to give the group a wake-up call. We let slip 21 points and there aren’t many teams you can give that amount of points and expect to win, so we will be better.

“The ironic thing is we play really well against them at their ground which is probably better than most in the league. Who knows, this is probably the one game we need on the road. To be fair, we have a few guys who have played there and this will be like a home game for them.”

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BULLS TEAM

BULLS STARTING XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp (Laerskool Mooirivier), 2. Johan Grobbelaar (Paarl Gymnasium), 3. Mornay Smith (Hoerskool Eldoraigne), 4. Reinhardt Ludwig (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool), 5. Ruan Nortje (c) (Hoerskool Wonderboom), 6. Marco van Staden (Hoërskool Bekker), 7. Elrigh Louw (Transvalia High School), 8. Cameron Hanekom (Paarl Boys High School), 9. Embrose Papier (Hoerskool Gaasfontein), 10. Jaco van der Walt (Laerskool Randfontein), 11. Canan Moodie (Boland Landbou Laerskool George Suid), 12. David Kriel (Eikestad Primary), 13. Stedman Gans (Laerskool Vredenburg), 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Paulus Joubert High School), 15. Devon Williams (Paarl Boys High)

VODACOM BULLS IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Simphiwe Matanzima (Queens College), 17. Akker van der Merwe (Laerskool George Suid), 18. Francois Kloppers (Winterton Primary School), 19. Janko Swanepoel (Gene Louw Primary School), 20. Marcell Coetzee (Suid-Natal Primary)/Sergeal Petersen (Laerskool Stuling), 21. Keagan Johannes (Avondale Primary), 22. Johan Goosen (Grey College), 23. Mpilo Gumede (Durban High School)