Windhoek Draught Griquas will be looking to return to winning ways against a mainly Vodacom Bulls u/21 team when they play in Round 2 of the Toyota Challenge hosted in Bloemfontein at 19h00 (SA Time) tonight.
Windhoek Draught Griquas lost to the Emerging Ireland side on Friday with 07-54.
Although the Vodacom Bulls u/21s is the frontrunner in the u/21 competition one can question the wisdom of the Vodacom Bulls to send a mainly u/21 team to face the Windhoek Draught Griquas two weeks before the semi-finals of the u/21 SARU Cup.
Prediction: The first 40 minutes could be exciting, however, if the Vodacom Bulls XV goes to sleep, a bad habit they showed in the SARU u/21 Cup, a lot of tears and scared bodies will travel back to Pretoria. Griquas by 25.
Windhoek Draught Griquas coach Pieter Bergh made four changes to the team that lost to the Irish. Scrumhalf Johan Mulder replaces Bobby Alexander in the only change at the back.
Michael Amiras and Carl Els are the new faces in the loosie combination with captain Niel Otto who played against the Irish, returning. Godfrey Muzanargwo comes in at lock with tighthead Janu Botha and hooker Janco Uys the new faces in the front row.
Vodacom Bulls XV head coach, Hayden Groepes selected a full-strength young side that will do battle against the Windhoek Lager Griquas in the next round of the 2022 Toyota challenge. The side will be co-captained by the experienced duo of Cebo Dlamini and Tiaan Fourie.
At the team’s departure, coach Groepes said the opportunity that awaits his side in Bloemfontein, is one to be grabbed with both hands.
“This encounter is another great opportunity that the Bulls has given these youngsters and we hope that they will go out there and enjoy the moment as they go up against Currie Cup finalists, putting up their hands to try and put themselves up for any senior opportunities to come,”
Speaking on the youthful balance of the side, the coach said: “We are taking a predominantly young side who will face a different level of physicality, playing against a senior group of players but I do believe that we have a well-conditioned group whom I’d like to see respond to the demands of the conditions” concluded Groepes.
Teams
Griquas: 15. Malcolm Jaer, 14. Reagan Oranje, 13. Jay-Cee Nel, 12. Tertius Kruger, 11. Luther Obi, 10. Eddie Fouche, 9. Johan Mulder, 8. Michael Amiras, 7. Carl Els, 6. Niel Otto (c), 5. Albert Liebenberg, 4. Godfrey Muzanargwo, 3. Janu Botha, 2. Janco Uys, 1. Kudzwai Dube. Replacements: 16. Sean Swart, 17. Melusi Mtabela, 18. Justin Forwood, 19. Johan Retief, 20. Thabo Ndimande, 21. Stephan Smit, 2.2 George Whitehead, 23. Vaughen Isaacs.
Bulls: 15. Quewin Nortje, 14. Adrian Joubert, 13. Munashe Dukuzwa, 12. Carlton Banies, 11. Larry Nkonki, 10. Rowan Cloete, 9. Tiaan Fourie, 8.Hardus Rothmann, 7. Merwe Oliver, 6. Rynard Mouton, 5. Marco de Witt, 4. Hanno Theunissen, 3. Rob Hunt, 2. Tiaan Lange, 1. Cebo Dlamini. Replacements: 16. Tielman Nieuwoudt, 17. Reuben van der Nest, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. Ghudian van Reenen, 20. Neels Volschenk, 21. Neil le Roux, 22. Gert Steyn, 23. Franco Knoetze, 24. Gcino Mdletshe, 25. Eric Basson, 26. Compion von Ludwig.