Kuun to captain Blue Bulls in friendly

Derick Kuün has been named captain of the Vodacom Blue Bulls team for their compulsory friendly against the Griffons in Welkom on Friday.

Kuün, who has 68 times Super Rugby caps and 95 provincial matches to his name, will  lead a side featuring many new faces.

   This is because new coach Pine Pienaar will look to test combinations for the last time ahead of the Absa Currie Cup competition.

  “We had a look at players who had a lot of game time during the Super rugby competition and it guided us in how we chose the team,”  Pienaar said on Wednesday.

   “I think it is important to also give players on the fringe an opportunity in this game and I’m very excited about the 22 we have chosen for Friday night in Welkom and hopefully we can go on, play our game and do the things we want to do in the Currie Cup.”   

Amongst the new faces is former Tuks Varsity Cup player Jurgen Visser and Wesley Dunlop as well as former Lions hooker Willie Wepener — who has just moved from French powerhouse Clermont.

   “There good thing about the structures here at the Bulls is that  all of the players know exactly what to do,” Pienaar added.

   “Coming from the Vodacom and Under-21 set-up they also know exactly what we want — its just on the day being on point with our  execution because they know what is expected of them on Friday.”   

National Under-20 players Lohan Jacobs and Francois Venter have been included on the bench.

   Pienaar did, however, stress earlier this week that a final decision on the team’s captain for the Currie Cup will only be confirmed before the competition starts.

   “There are a lot of strong leaders in the group and we’ll make a  decision on that prior to the first Currie Cup game against the Sharks.”   

Team: Jurgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Stephan Dippenaar,  Stefan Watermeyer, Sampie Mastriet, Francois Brummer, Dustin Jinka, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, CJ Stander, Derick Kuün (capt), Juandré Kruger, Fudge Mabeta, Rossouw de Klerk, Willie Wepener, Corné Fourie. Replacements: Henri Bantjés, Juan Schoeman, Warwick Tecklenberg, Okkie Kruger, Lohan Jacobs, Wesley Dunlop, Francois Venter.