Springboks Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha were recalled as Bulls starters on Wednesday for this weekend's Super 14 rugby final against the Sharks.
The pair made up the only change from the team which beat the Canterbury Crusaders 27-12 in the semi-finals last weekend.
Du Preez replaces Heini Adams at scrumhalf, and Botha, after two games on the bench, was fit enough to swap places with Danie Rossouw and join captain Victor Matfield in the second row.
PHOTO: AP
A question mark remained over du Preez's fitness. He hurt his shoulder during a man-of-the-match performance against the Auckland Blues more than two weeks ago, then aggravated it as a substitute in the 92-3 defeat of the Queensland Reds which lifted the Bulls to second after the round robin.
Du Preez, South Africa's 2006 player of the year, then failed to pass a late fitness test for the semis, and though he was back in limited training, coach Heyneke Meyer was prepared to wait again until the last minute for one of his key players.
"As we speak he is not ready, but I believe he will be fine and that is why I have named him to start," Meyer said.
Starting Botha for Rossouw was a strategic move, he said.
"I have chosen Bakkies ahead of Danie not because the best man starts but because I believe Danie is probably the best impact player in world rugby," Meyer said. "Danie will definitely come on in the last 20 minutes of the game when it has opened up. I choose the right players for the right games."
"The Sharks are a very tough team and we will need to be at our best. They have a physical pack and a very good backline. It is going to be a special occasion for both teams and South Africa," Meyer said.
Sharks coach Dick Muir gave his team the day off on Wednesday before a private practice yesterday, when he will name his side.
Muir said winger JP Pietersen and utility back Adrian Jacobs were recovering well after their respective hip and face injuries against the Blues last Saturday.
The Sharks will host South Africa's first Super 14 final on Saturday in Durban, where King's Park Stadium will be a sellout.
Bulls: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Rayno Gerber, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp. Replacements: Jaco Engels, Danie Thiart, Danie Rossouw, Derick Kuun, Heini Adams, Morne Steyn, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS