The Vodacom Bulls U21's travel to Durban this weekend for a third-round clash against the Hollywoodbets Sharks U21's. The two teams are sitting third and fourth on the log, respectively and will meet on Saturday, 17 May at 15h00 (SA Time) on the B-fields of the Kings Park precinct.
The Bulls has once again opted for a six-two split impact squad that features a trio of junior Springboks returning from national duty with the Junior Boks in the under-20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha. Among the trio is Siphosethu Mnebelele, who will make his club debut and will become the fourth under-19 to feature in the current under-21 campaign.
Fellow baby-boks join him in Ranon Fouche and Jean Erasmus. The rest of the standby crew sees team co-captain and match vice-captain Lukas Meyer alongside Nokutenda Mapungwana, Roelof Adam Jacobus ‘RJ’ Barnard, Brooklyn Newman and Roelof Daniel ‘RD’ Engelbrecht, who made his club debut back in his High School year, becoming the fifth under-19 brought into the fold.
On the starting fifteen, a few changes were made. Mbasa Maqubela, Shaun Schürmann and Casper Badenhorst are lining up at the front row. Behind the bulky trio will be the lock pairing of Johnathan Eloff and Heinrich Theron with Cephas van Biljon and Jacobus Johanes “JJ” Theron, who is also returning from duty in the Eastern Cape held Rugby Championship, serving at loose-forward. Abri van der Westhuysen slots in at eight. At the back, scrumhalf Steven Nel and flyhalf Liam Koen have been trusted to serve once more at halfback. Behind the creative marshals will be Riyaad Bam at the left wing and Alfondso Isaacs on the right side of the park. Wedged between the fast movers will be centre duo, Pieter van der Merwe and captain Logan Opperman. Sibongokuhle Thierry “JT” Kapank will offer cover at fullback.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks made five changes to their starting line-up, welcoming back Junior Springboks Matt Romao and Batho Hlekani in the starting line-up and Ceano Everson on the bench.
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks U21: 1 Phiwa Kubheka, 2 Ethan Bester, 3 Nathi Ntuli, 4 Sphephelo Mbonambi, 5 Kuhle Mthimkhulu, 6 Matt Romao, 7 Batho Hlekani, 8 Thomas Dyer, 9 Juan Loots, 10 Frederick Marx, 11 Maurice Willemse, 12 Janco Purchase, 13 Lilith Bester, 14 Khuti Rasivhaga, 15 Jaco Williams. Replacements: 16 Liam Van Wyk, 17 A Dlamini, 18 Christoff Etzebeth, 19 Yabo Ndzamela, 20 V Pretorius, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Luan Gilliomee, 23 Chijindu Okota.
Vodacom Bulls u21: 1. Mbasa Maqubela, 2. Shaun Schürmann, 3. Casper Badenhorst (vc), 4. Johnathan Eloff, 5. Heinrich Theron, 6. Cephas van Biljon, 7. Jacobus Johanes “JJ” Theron, 8. Abri van der Westhuysen, 9. Steven Nel, 10. Liam Koen, 11. Riyaad Bam, 12. Pieter van der Merwe, 13. Logan Opperman (c), 14. Alfondso Isaacs, 15. “JT” Kapank. Replacements: 16. Siphosethu Mnebelele, 17. Ranon Fouche, 18. Jean Erasmus, 19. Nokutenda Mapungwana, 20. Roelof Adam Jacobus ‘RJ’ Barnard, 21. Brooklyn Newman, 22. Roelof Daniel ‘RD’ Engelbrecht, 23. Lukas Meyer (vc)