OLD habits die hard — that is what new Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais has learnt as he has prepared a new side for the Currie Cup season.
Marais will take charge of his first Currie Cup match on Saturday when the Bulls take on the Free State Cheetahs in their in Bloemfontein.
The new head honcho took over the reins immediately after the conclusion of the Bulls’ poor Super Rugby season.
Immediately he promised a change in the style of play and the unearthing of new talent.
In terms of blooding future stars‚ Marais has already ticked that box.
There are no fewer than 15 players in the match 22 who were not part of the Bulls’ last Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs at Loftus‚ and no fewer than eight possible debutants for Saturday’s clash.
However‚ the coach has not found it smooth sailing in ridding the players of the tricks they learned under previous coach Frans Ludeke.
“To get old habits out takes longer than just five weeks‚” Marais said on Thursday of his preparations with the team ahead of the domestic season.
“It is a continuous process — something that we are going to have to look to improve every week.”
Marais‚ a former junior and Varsity Cup coach with Tukkies‚ has worked with most of the players in his squad before.
He has also opted to put his faith in the youthful players.
The weekend’s team has an average age of 24.
Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard‚ 27‚ is the oldest backline player while 30-year-old prop Werner Kruger is the most senior citizen.
At only 19‚ Hanro Liebenberg is the youngest member of the team. The bench boasts a youthful age average of 23.
“There’s a lot of excitement in the players. I can feel the energy among the players and the team‚” said Marais.
“There are a lot of players who have been waiting for their opportunities. A guy like Warrick Gelant is very exciting and he’s been waiting for an opportunity on the bigger stage.
“We are expecting a lot from a guy like William Small-Smith. There are also those combinations like Small-Smith and Burger Odendaal with [flyhalf] Tian Schoeman.”
The side will also be led by a new captain in Lappies Labuschagne.
Just last season the 26-year-old turned out in the orange strip of the Cheetahs before switching allegiance to the Bulls ahead of the Super Rugby season.
Labuschagne is determined that the side has put their woeful Super Rugby campaign behind them.
“What happened in Super Rugby is not relevant now‚” Labuschagne said yesterday.
“This is a new group and a new campaign — we are starting afresh. We are all looking forward to playing some good rugby.”
The Bulls team:
Warrick Gelant‚ Travis Ismaiel‚ William Small-Smith‚ Burger Odendaal‚ Jamba Ulengo‚ Tian Schoeman‚ Francois Hougaard‚ Hanro Liebenberg‚ Lappies Labuschagne‚ Deon Stegmann‚ Marvin Orie‚ Jacques du Plessis‚ Werner Kruger‚ Jaco Visagie‚ Dean Greyling. Replacements: Bandise Maku‚ Nqoba Mxoli‚ RG Snyman‚ Roelof Smit‚ Ivan van Zyl‚ Louis Fouche‚ Dries Swanepoel.
The Cheetahs team:
Coenie van Wyk; Clayton Blommetjies‚ Francois Venter‚ Rayno Benjamin‚ Raymond Rhule; Niel Marais‚ Shaun Venter; Gerhard Oliver‚ Henco Venter‚ Boom Prinsloo; Francois Uys‚ Willem Serfontein; Luan de Bruin‚ Neil Rautenbach‚ Caylib Oosthuizen. Replacements Jacques du Toit‚ Maks van Dyk‚ BG Uys‚ Reniel Hugo‚ Tienie Burger; Zee Makhabela‚ Fred Zeilinga. – The Times
Source: RDM News Wire.
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