Blue Bulls eager to earn spot in the Currie Cup semifinals

30 August 2016 - 17:28 By Chumani Bambani

The Blue Bulls have set their sights on a spot in the Currie Cup semifinals and they intend to take this fighting spirit to their match against the Golden Lions on Friday. After four rounds of matches‚ the Bulls have suffered two defeats on the road this year and a win at home at Loftus Versfeld against the Currie Cup holders would go a long way towards paving the way to the knockout stages of the competition.“We need to prove on Friday night that we belong in the semifinals‚” Bulls coach Nollis Marais said on Tuesday.“We have to win‚ especially at Loftus. The Lions have beaten us twice in a row now here at Loftus‚ so it is nothing new for them. We need to make a huge step up on Friday night if we want to contest the semifinals.”Blue Bulls suffer injury blow to KirstenIn addition to their 19-26 defeat to the Sharks at the weekend‚ the Blue Bulls have been dealt a further blow following the loss of flanker Jannes Kirsten. The Bulls are still reeling from the 19-26 defeat they suffered to the Sharks last weekend‚ which was their second loss away from home after they were also beaten by the Free State Cheetahs in the second round of matches.Marais' players have a better record at home after beating Western Province and the Eastern Province Kings at Loftus.They will hope to repeat the feat against a Lions side that is still beaming after a 60-12 victory over Boland Cavaliers last weekend which took them to third place on the log – one spot above the Bulls.“Unfortunately we have lost two of our away games. Now playing at Loftus‚ it will be important that we win otherwise we will go down to the last three games with permutations‚ depending on someone else to win and someone to lose‚ we don’t like that‚” said the Bulls coach.“Friday night is going to be a big test for us. It will be a big test of character and I think we are on the right track. In saying that‚ we need to prove it on Friday night.”Sharks-Bulls clash could set the tone for rest of Currie Cup seasonWhen the Sharks host the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup clash in Durban on Saturday night‚ the match could provide an indication of how the season will pan out. Following a satisfactory performance against the Sharks‚ Marais has opted for continuity in his side.On Tuesday the coach made only two changes to his starting XV.A rotational switch at loosehead prop sees Pierre Schoeman getting the nod while Lizo Gqoboka sits out of action this weekend.Marais was forced to make a change to his loose trio following the shoulder injury to flanker Jannes Kirsten.Hanro Liebenberg takes Kirsten’s place in the starting lineup‚ but will be at the back of the scrum at eighthman with captain Arno Botha moving to the side of the scrum in the No7 jersey.The pair will form a loose trio of former SA under-20 captains with Ruan Steenkamp.“Jannes was playing excellent rugby‚ but he was struggling [with his shoulder] and that is why we took him off early in the second half‚ and he will now have a two-week rest. At first we thought it would be a season-ender‚ but luckily it is only two weeks‚” Marais explained.“Coming in is Hanro‚ a guy who has been playing well. Arno will move to No7‚ so we will have the same combination that we had in Super Rugby when we played the [Western] Force and Brumbies. They should be good for us.”Blue Bulls' defensive shortcomings continue to hinder their Currie Cup progressThe Blue Bulls will attempt to solve their many defensive frailties when they face the Sharks in a Currie Cup clash in Durban on Saturday (6:10pm). The match will kick off at 7pm on Friday.The Bulls team is: Duncan Matthews‚ Travis Ismaiel‚ Dries Swanepoel‚ Burger Odendaal‚ Jamba Ulengo‚ Tian Schoeman‚ Piet van Zyl‚ Hanro Liebenberg‚ Arno Botha‚ Ruan Steenkamp‚ Marvin Orie‚ RG Snyman‚ Jacobie Adriaanse‚ Jaco Visagie‚ Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: Bandise Maku‚ Martin Dreyer‚ Nic de Jager‚ Roelof Smit‚ Andre Warner‚ Josh Stander‚ Ulrich Beyers. - TMG Digital..

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