With their Carling Currie Cup campaign in urgent need of a turnaround after two consecutive defeats, the Vodacom Bulls XV have received a timely boost with six members of South Africa’s World Rugby U20 Championship-winning squad included in the matchday 23 for tomorrow’s clash against the Lions.
Siphosethu Mnebelele, Kebotile Maake, Heinrich Theron, Hendre Schoeman, Aka Boqwane and Thomas Beling all return to Vodacom Bulls colours after helping the Junior Springboks lift the World Rugby U20 Championship trophy, providing an injection of youthful confidence and proven winning pedigree ahead of this crucial Jukskei derby taking place at the University of Johannesburg.
The match will also mark an important milestone for several of the young stars, with seven players in line to make their Currie Cup debuts. Maake, Theron, Schoeman and winger Lindsey Jansen all start, while Johnathan Eloff, Boqwane and Lavela Pongolo could earn their first Currie Cup caps from the bench.
Experienced lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg has been handed the captaincy and will lead a side that blends established campaigners with emerging talent. He forms the second-row partnership with Sintu Manjezi, while world champion Beling starts at No 8 alongside fellow debutants Maake and Theron in the loose trio.
In the backline, another Junior Springbok world champion, Hendre Schoeman, gets the nod at scrumhalf alongside flyhalf Keagan Johannes. Jansen starts on the wing, with Devon Williams adding valuable experience at fullback.
The Vodacom Bulls XV coaching staff will hope the blend of youthful enthusiasm and senior leadership can help spark their season after a losing start. With local pride and valuable Currie Cup points at stake against their Gauteng rivals, Saturday’s encounter presents an opportunity for a new generation of Vodacom Bulls talent to announce themselves.
Vodacom Bulls XV vs Lions
- Damian Baker
- Jaundre Schoeman
- Dian Coetzee
- Sintu Manjezi
- Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (c)
- Kebotile Maake*
- Heinrich Theron*
- Thomas Beling
- Hendre Schoeman*
- Keagan Johannes
- Lindsey Jansen*
- Christiaan Viok
- Hakeem Kunene
- Riyaad Bam
- Devon Williams
Replacements
- Siphosethu Mnebelele
- Dylan Smith
- Jean Erasmus
- Johnathan Eloff*
- Abongile Nonkontwana
- Cephas van Biljon
- Aka Boqwane*
- Lavela Pongolo*
* Currie Cup debutant.
