Smal picks strong Bulls team for Currie Cup clash with Cheetahs

An exciting Bulls side will take on the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night.

Coach Gert Smal has selected a team with a balance of youth and experience which will see the centre pairing of Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans in the backline, while winger Stravino Jacobs makes a return to the starting XV. Hendricks will lead the side.

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Teenage flanker Cameron Hanekom will earn a starting berth at blindside flank where he will partner with WJ Steenkamp on the openside and Muller Uys at No 8.

The Bulls will unleash a solid starting front row which includes Gerhard Steenekamp at loosehead prop, Robert Hunt on the other side of the scrum and Schalk Erasmus starting in the No 2 jumper.

“The team had a week’s break after the opening two matches of the Currie Cup season where we had an opportunity to work on areas that we felt we needed to improve,” said Smal.

“We now have the tough task of facing a dangerous Cheetahs team who we know will give us a good challenge. We expect the side from Bloemfontein to come to Loftus Versfeld highly motivated, and they will give us both a physical and running game on Wednesday night.

The match kicks off at 5.45pm on Wednesday.

Bulls: David Kriel, Sibongile Novuka, Stedman Gans, Cornal Hendricks (capt), Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Muller Uys, Cameron Hanekom, WJ Steenkamp, Janko Swanepoel, Reinhardt Ludwig, Robert Hunt, Schalk Erasmus, Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: Joe van Zyl, Lizo Gqoboka, Sebastian Lombard, Raynard Roets, Jaco Labuschagne, Keagan Johannes, FC du Plessis, Richard Kriel