For Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against the Glasgow Warriors, Bulls coach Jake White has reinstated Chris Smith as flyhalf in place of Johan Goosen (8.35pm SA time kickoff).
In the 28-14 victory against Connacht last week at Loftus Versfeld, Goosen began in the No. 10 shirt. A week previously, he had started his recovery from a long-term knee injury at fullback against Edinburgh.
The match-23 team revealed by White on Friday did not include the former Cheetahs star, who is expected to be recalled by the Springboks for the end-of-year trip to Europe. Instead, the reliable Smith was given the playmaker’s role.
“I won’t put him (Goosen) at danger on a 4G pitch. The truth is that no Test match in Tier One countries is on a 4G surface for a reason, White stated during the press conference for the team announcement.
“He was hurt on that kind of surface, and I just believe from a player welfare point of view – and the fact that he’s coming from a horrendous injury and being out for 11 months – I just don’t feel like we should risk playing him on a 4G field,” the coach said.
But having said that, I have faith in Chris and Morné (Steyn). They have been with us since I arrived, they are familiar with our playing style, and they have performed well whenever I have needed them.
“I’m not asking Goosen if he thinks it’s acceptable; I’m making a judgment on my own. It may be (a mental problem for Goosen on a 4G surface).
“I simply don’t feel like I want to take a guy’s safety on a 4G pitch when I know that’s a kind of surface,” the author said. First of all, it was on that kind of surface that he was hurt. But there are also many players that sustain such kinds of injuries on that surface if you look at the history and the statistics.
And because he had been away for 11 months, I decided against it since I didn’t want to take the chance.
Due to injuries, Boks speedsters Canan Moodie and Sbu Nkosi are unable to play, thus veteran Cornal Hendricks assumes the No. 14 shirt, Stedman Gans starts at left wing, and Lionel Mapoe fills in at outside center.
Only the hooker position has changed; Johan Grobbelaar, who was injured, has been replaced at No. 2 by Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
The fresh faces on the bench are Wandisile Simelane, Morné Steyn, and Bismarck du Plessis.
“I am pleased with the way the players practiced this week despite the challenging weather. We have the fantastic chance to go out there against Glasgow and accomplish what we need to do because we are in a great place as a team. maintaining the momentum that this campaign has already given us,” White said in a statement.
“This new campaign is still in its early stages, but if we keep doing the fundamentals well week in and week out, everything else will also come into place.”
Team Bulls
Kurt-Lee Arendse, age 15. Cornal Hendricks, age 14. 13 David Kriel 12 Lionel Mapoe Stedman Gans, 11 Chris Smith 10 Zak Burger, #9 Elrigh Louw 8, Walt Steenkamp 4 Ruan Nortje 5 Marcell Coetzee (captain) 6 Marco van Staden 7 Frank Klopper 3 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 2 Gerhard Steenekamp is No. 1.
Bench: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Janko Swanepoel, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, and 21 Embrose Papier. Wandisile Simelane 22 Morné Steyn 23.
Leave a Reply