The Bulls showed their class and experience when they played the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth this past weekend. The Bulls scored 4 unanswered tries to bag 5 log points and move to the top of the South African Conference, one point ahead of the Cheetahs and Sharks.
The Bulls scored 2 first half tries down the left hand touch line. The first one came through man of the match Jan Serfontein and the second through Jano Vermaak. Both tries were converted by Morne Steyn and he also added 2 penalty kicks, half time score 20 - 0.
The Kings started the second half much better and were playing more in the Bulls half of the field, but even with 51% possession and 52% territory in the second half the Kings were still unable to cross the Bulls try line.
The Bulls also managed to score two late tries in the second half as the game opened up and the Bulls started to find the gaps in the Kings defense. Jacques Potgieter once the beloved son of EP rugby scored the Bulls 3rd try in the 76th minute and the bonus point try came through Akona Ndungane on the full time hooter, final score 34 - 0.
Many would ask the question why Luke Watson was preferred ahead of Jacques Engelbrecht who was outstanding in Watson's absence. Watson who made his return to Super Rugby against the Bulls after injury kept him out for a few weeks looked a bit off the pace and though he tried to pull his weight nothing went his way on the night.
Speaking after the game Luke said they were not in the game, the Bulls were in top form, very accurate and very clinical in everything they did.
"They took us out of the game and we never rocked up, so it was a disappointing evening for us."
The Kings made a few changes to their team ahead of Saturdays match against the Cheetahs in Bloem. Captaincy went back to Andries Strauss to leading the Kings out against his old team mates.
They have also decided to move Watson to the bench and bring Engelbrecht back to the starting line up.
The Kings will also face the Cheetahs without Sergeal Petersen. Solomons said Petersen was not up for selection after continuing concerns over the groin strain he had sustained last week during training, despite initial indications that he was eligible for selection.
“Sergeal’s groin is still not 100% and on discussing it with the medical staff, we feel that it would not be worth risking.”
“He is a young guy, an athlete and wing. If he tears the groin muscle, it could not only affect his playing this season, but his career going forward. He is a young 18-year-old who has a marvelous career ahead of him and we feel that to be cautious at this point in time is the right thing for him.”
With Petersen unavailable it gives an opportunity to Siyanda Grey who has recovered from an injury he picked up last season, to make his debut at Super Rugby level. Another player who will be making his first Super Rugby appearance in a Southern Kings jersey is Michael Killian. Marcello Sampson falls out of the match day 22.
“Marcello has been involved in most of the games to date, Michael comes back from injury and we have done a rotation there, as it is important that we have strength in depth. One must also remember that we have now played seven games back to back, including four on tour, and the effects of that are being felt,” Solomons said.
Ronnie Cooke will also move back to centre while Waylon Murray moves to the bench. Among the forwards Rynier Bernardo would start while David Bulbring moved to the bench, and Jacques “Vleis” Engelbrecht would start at number eight in Watson’s place.
Virgile Lacombe has also been named on the bench, having recovered from his rib injury and having come off a strong showing in the second half of the Vodacom Cup game against the Sharks XV this past weekend.
Southern Kings team to face the Cheetahs:
15 George Whitehead 14 Siyanda Grey 13 Ronnie Cooke 12 Andries Strauss (C) 11 Micheal Killian 10 Demetri Catrakilis 9 Shaun Venter 8 Jacques Engelbrecht 7 Wimpier van der Walt 6 Cornell du Preez 5 Rynier Bernado 4 Steven Sykes (VC) 3 Kevin Buys 2 Bandise Maku 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements:
16 Virgile Lacombe 17 Grant Kemp 18 David Bulbring 19 Luke Watson 20 Nicolas Vergallo 21 Waylon Murray 22 Siviwe Soyizwapi
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