Bulls 'mix-and-match' for opener

By Online Editors

Thursday 9 Jan 2020

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Pote Human has opted for a 'mix-and-match' approach for the team's pre-season opener.

The Bulls have returned from their festive season break and will shake off the rust with a couple of warm-up matches against teams from the University of Pretoria on Saturday, January 11, at the Tuks Stadium.

The Bulls will split their extended squad across the two matches.

They also face the Lions in a two-match series - one team at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, January 17 and another team in Soweto on Sunday, January 19 - before the season gets underway against the Sharks in Round One on Friday, January 31.

Teams

Bulls (warm-up match one): 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Jaundrè Kruger, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Ian Groenewald, 19 Marius Verwey, 20 Jean Droste, 21 David Coetzer, 22 Dawid Kellerman, 23 Diego Appolis, 24 Tim Agaba.

Date: Saturday, January 11

Venue: Tuks Stadium, Pretoria

Kick-off: 09.00 (07.00 GMT)

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Bulls (warm-up match two): 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ryno Pieterse, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Madot Mabokela, 18 Adre Smith, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Jay-Cee Nel, 23 Franco Naude, 24 Vaughen Isaacs.

Date: Saturday, January 11

Venue: Tuks Stadium, Pretoria

Kick-off: 11.00 (09.00 GMT)

Referee: Griffon Colby

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