The Vodacom Bulls have lost the services of a key Springbok for at least the next six weeks as they look to get back to winning ways in their second tour match against Connacht in Galway.
The Pretoria side are still smarting from last week’s heavy loss to Ulster in Belfast, and are determined to set things straight, but they’ll have to do so without the hard-running ball-scavenger Marco van Staden.
TEAM: Willie starts as Ackers wields axe
‘Eskom’ misses Friday night’s showdown due to a light knee hematoma, but the injury is of such a nature that he would be available to play without any discomfort again next week. But coach Johan Ackermann says at this stage it’s unlikely that he’ll feature again until after his national commitments.
“He took a knock to the knee [in the loss to Ulster] which turned out to be a ‘lammie’, but it looks like he’ll be back again next week should we need him to play. But we’ve said from the beginning that he’d be returning to the Springboks after two weeks with us. Marcel [Coetzee] has recovered from his concussion, so he’ll join us next week and we’ll have him available.”
Ackermann made a total of 11 changes to his team for the match.
In the front row, Alu Tshakweni comes in at loosehead prop for Gerhard Steenekamp, while Jan-Hendrik Wessels moves from the bench to start at hooker in place of Johan Grobbelaar.
Among the locks, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg makes way for Reinhardt Ludwig, who will also captain the side. JJ Theron and Nama Xaba replace Marco van Staden and Mpilo Gumede in the back row.
Paul de Wet and Keagan Johannes are the halfback pairing, with Jan Serfontein replacing Harold Vorster in the midfield alongside David Kriel.
Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard has returned to South Africa for the birth of his second child.
ALSO: Ackers urges patience with Pollard
Willie le Roux starts at fullback with Canan Moodie on the right wing.
The Bulls have won three of their four previous meetings with Connacht, with their only defeat a 34-7 loss in Galway in 2021.
Ackermann says the changes weren’t a direct result of the Belfast loss, but rather a horses-for-courses type of approach for the kind of game the Bulls want to play against Connacht.
“We looked at how we wanted to play against Connacht and which players we have who best fit the plan. JJ is a really good lineout jumper, but we felt that Juandre and Nama are known for their hard work on the ground and their overall work ethic. JJ has the ability to jump in the lineouts and he’s also very quick. So if Marco was available, you wouldn’t have the option of having all three on the park at the same time.”
Photo: Seb Daly/Gallo Images
The post Ackers’ loose forward roulette appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Vodacom Bulls have lost the services of a key Springbok for at least the next six weeks as they look to get back to winning ways in their second tour match against Connacht in Galway.
The post Ackers’ loose forward roulette appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
