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South Africa No. 8 Pierre Spies returned from injury to bolster
the Bulls on Wednesday for their Super 14 clash with the Otago
Highlanders.
Spies was named in coach Frans Ludeke's team and will play
alongside flanker Dewald Potgieter, who makes his first Super 14
start of the season.
Potgieter came off the bench against the New South Wales
Waratahs two weeks ago and has made use of the Bulls' bye week to
fully recover from his early season knee strain. Spies has also
overcome a knee problem that kept him out of the 48-38 win over the
Waratahs.
Derick Kuun will continue as openside flanker with Deon Stegmann
named on the bench. Danie Rossouw moves from No. 8 to lock.
"The selection of Derick at openside is also part of the
rotational understanding we have," Ludeke said. "All the players,
Deon (Stegmann) included, accept this policy."
Ludeke's reigning Super 14 champion team leads the standings
with a maximum 15 points from its three games. The Bulls have
scored 149 points in the process.
Springboks lock Victor Matfield will captain the team for the
50th time on Saturday and is set to play his 99th Super rugby
match.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez was also named despite fears over a
sprained ankle at training this week.
The unbeaten Bulls are the overwhelming favorite to win at
Loftus Versfeld after New Zealand's Otago was routed 33-0 by the
Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
Ludeke said he was not relying on past form.
"They (Otago) did play badly against the Stormers. They have a
strong set phase and with Tom Donnelly in the lineouts, can be very
difficult opponents," he said. "They created enough chances against
the Stormers and we realize that our A-game will be needed to beat
them."
In-form Bulls No. 10 Morne Steyn needs 23 points to equal the
record of former Sharks fullback Gavin Lawless, who scored 100
points in four Super 14 games in 1997. Steyn has 77 in his three
games with three tries, 10 penalties and 16 conversions.
---
Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar,
Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez;
Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger, Danie Rossouw, Victor
Matfield (captain), Derick Kuun, Dewald Potgieter, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe,
Deon Stegmann, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen,
Pedrie Wannenburg.
the Bulls on Wednesday for their Super 14 clash with the Otago
Highlanders.
Spies was named in coach Frans Ludeke's team and will play
alongside flanker Dewald Potgieter, who makes his first Super 14
start of the season.
Potgieter came off the bench against the New South Wales
Waratahs two weeks ago and has made use of the Bulls' bye week to
fully recover from his early season knee strain. Spies has also
overcome a knee problem that kept him out of the 48-38 win over the
Waratahs.
Derick Kuun will continue as openside flanker with Deon Stegmann
named on the bench. Danie Rossouw moves from No. 8 to lock.
"The selection of Derick at openside is also part of the
rotational understanding we have," Ludeke said. "All the players,
Deon (Stegmann) included, accept this policy."
Ludeke's reigning Super 14 champion team leads the standings
with a maximum 15 points from its three games. The Bulls have
scored 149 points in the process.
Springboks lock Victor Matfield will captain the team for the
50th time on Saturday and is set to play his 99th Super rugby
match.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez was also named despite fears over a
sprained ankle at training this week.
The unbeaten Bulls are the overwhelming favorite to win at
Loftus Versfeld after New Zealand's Otago was routed 33-0 by the
Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
Ludeke said he was not relying on past form.
"They (Otago) did play badly against the Stormers. They have a
strong set phase and with Tom Donnelly in the lineouts, can be very
difficult opponents," he said. "They created enough chances against
the Stormers and we realize that our A-game will be needed to beat
them."
In-form Bulls No. 10 Morne Steyn needs 23 points to equal the
record of former Sharks fullback Gavin Lawless, who scored 100
points in four Super 14 games in 1997. Steyn has 77 in his three
games with three tries, 10 penalties and 16 conversions.
---
Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar,
Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez;
Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger, Danie Rossouw, Victor
Matfield (captain), Derick Kuun, Dewald Potgieter, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe,
Deon Stegmann, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen,
Pedrie Wannenburg.