Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Nollis Marais, named Theo Maree at scrumhalf and Travis Ismaiel at wing for his squad’s SuperSport Rugby Challenge against Down Touch Griffons at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
Maree played off the bench against the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias last weekend and comes in for Embrose Papier, who are on Vodacom Bulls duty.
Ismaiel replaces Cameron Hufke.
Marais also called on two new props in Madot Mabokela and Matthys Basson. Mabokela replaces Mornay Smith and the loose head takes over from Nqoba Mxoli.
On the bench, Dayan van der Westhuizen makes a return after recovering from injury, as is Jade Stighling.
Lian du Toit takes Maree’s place on the bench and Stighling replaced Vaughan Isaacs, who was called into the Junior Springboks squad.
The team is:
15. Earll Douwrie
14. Travis Ismaiel
13. Erich Cronje
12. JT Jackson
11. Duncan Matthews
10. Fiela Boshoff
9. Theo Maree
8. Muller Uys
7. Nic de Jager
6. Ruan Steenkamp (c)
5. Aston Fortuin
4. Marius Verwey
3. Madot Mabokela
2. Werner Fourie
1. Matthys Basson
Replacements:
16. Joe van Zyl
17. Dayan van der Westhuizen
18. Ruan Nortje
19. Roelof Smit
20. Lian du Toit
21. Diego Appollis
22. Jade Stighling
Vodacom Blue Bulls v Down Touch Griffons
Kick-off: 16h50
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Paul Mente
