Vodacom Bulls Under-21 head coach, Hayden Groepes, has selected a strong team to open their SA Rugby Under-21 Cup campaign when they face their Leopards counterparts at Loftus B-field on Saturday.
The match, which kicks off at 12h30, will be the season-opening match of the competition and this will be the first time the inter-provincial under-21 contest will take place since 2020 when the Vodacom Bulls U21 side successfully defended their title, winning two back-to-back titles.
It will be prop, Cebo Dlamini, and scrumhalf, Tiaan Fourie, who will lead the Tshwane-based side as co-captains during the campaign as they hope to start off on a high note in their attempt to claim a third title.
“This group of players and coaches have been working hard the past number of weeks in preparation for this crucial SA Rugby U21 Cup season. We have certainly seen a sense of excitement and hunger in the build-up to the start of the campaign,” said head coach, Groepes.
“We have a tough start against a Leopards team that will be dangerous. We will need to be at our best in this opening match to set the tone for the rest of the season. The Vodacom Bulls have done exceptionally well in previous season, so there will be a lot of expectation for us to live up to that historic success. However, we will not be putting any unnecessary pressure on ourselves, but will focus on growing as a team and enjoying the journey as much as we can.”
The Vodacom Bulls U21 team to face Leopards U21 is:
STARTERS (15-1): FC du Plessis, Adrian Joubert, Tharquinn Manuel, Keanan Wentzel, Quewin Nortje, Compion von Ludwig, Tiaan Fourie (Co-Captain); Abulele Ndabambi, Ghudian van Reenan, Neels Volschenk, Marco de Witt, Merwe Olivier, Sebastian Lombard, Tiaan Lange, Cebo Dlamini (Co-Captain).
IMPACT (16-23): Reube van der Nest, Corne Lavagna, Mawande Mdanda, Danwich Beukes, Hardus Rothmann, Neil le Roux, Gert Steyn, Franco Knoetze.
