Reshuffled Bulls redeploy bruiser
07/13/2024 03:05 AM
The versatile Jan-Hendrik Wessels will start at loosehead prop for the Vodacom Bulls against the Griffons in the Currie Cup at North West Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Wessels, who featured at hooker in 10 appearances across the 2023-24 Vodacom URC and Champions Cup campaigns, is one of five personnel changes and two positional swaps to the lineup that beat DHL Western Province in Cape Town last week.
He was a surprise call-up in a 39-man Springbok squad for the July Test series against Ireland. Rassie Erasmus has earmarked the 23-year-old as having the potential to play both loosehead prop and hooker at the highest level.
Wessels will pack down alongside tighthead Francois Klopper and No 2 Joe van Zyl for the Bulls in Welkom on Sunday, while Sintu Manjezi and Cobus Wiese get another opportunity to develop their partnership in the second row.
Skipper Nizaam Carr moves from No 8 to openside flanker in the absence of the injured Corne Beets, with Mpilo Gumede promoted from the bench to the back of the scrum. The experienced Jannes Kirsten completes the loose trio.
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In the backline, Devon Williams shifts from left wing to fullback in place of Boeta Chamberlain, who is getting married this weekend. Stravino Jacobs takes over the No 11 jersey and slots in opposite Sergeal Petersen on the right wing.
Aphiwe Dyantyi and Chris Smit, with Jaco van der Walt and Barend van der Linde, are retained as the midfield and halfback pairings respectively.
Wessels' run-on selection sees Dylan Smith drop to the bench, where Jacques van Rooyen and new recruit Nama Xaba are set to make an impact for the first time in the 2024 Currie Cup season.
Bulls – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Nizaam Carr (c), 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Subs: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Merwe Olivier, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
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