Springbok coach to visit Windhoek as Bulls get their big guns back…

THE Springbok candidates in the Super 14 teams of the Bulls and the Lions will be watched by the most important pair of rugby eyes in South Africa when they play in Windhoek on Saturday, starting at 15h00.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has confirmed that he will attend the warm-up match between the neighbouring teams at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek. From a national viewpoint it should be good news for De Villiers that three of the World Cup Springboks in the Bulls squad have recovered from injuries and are likely to be in the starting line-up.Bulls coach Frans Ludeke confirmed on Tuesday that Danie Rossouw, Gurthroe Steenkamp and Akona Ndungane would play against the Lions.More good news is that scrumhalf Heini Adams will return after a long absence.He was injured in the Bulls’ second Currie Cup match last year.To Ludeke, these developments represent the silver lining of a dark cloud.Injuries have been threatening to disrupt the squad’s preparations for their first Super 14 match of the season, against the Stormers in Cape Town on February 16.SHOW HIS ABILITY The Bulls will arrive in Namibia amid uncertainty about the fitness of hooker Chilliboy Ralepelle, props Rayno Gerber and Richard Bands, lock Bakkies Botha and loose forward Pierre Spies.The situation will put lock Wilhelm Steenkamp, hooker Derick Kuuen and prop Werner Kruger under pressure.The front-row problems may also present Dean Greyling with an opportunity to show his ability on the tighthead side.Greyling is a specialist loosehead prop but experts in Pretoria feel he has everything to make a name for himself on the other side.Meanwhile, the Bulls have included three of their previously injured World Cup Springboks in the side to play the Lions in a warm-up match on Saturday.Danie Rossouw, Gurthro Steenkamp and Akona Ndungane, have all been given the green light, and the starting lineup is arguably the best Frans Ludeke could have selected.Ludeke, who was not happy with the speed to the breakdown in last week’s first outing against the Boland Kavaliers, has also included young Deon Stegmann in place of Springbok Hilton Lobberts, who moves to the bench in an obvious effort to inject some pace into the pack.There is a view that the new laws can be used to speed up the game, but can also be used to great effect for the kicking game.Morne Steyn makes way at flyhalf to give Derick Hougaard a chance to start.With JP Nel and Wynand Olivier next to him, and Ndungane, Bryan Habana and new boy Zane Kirchner at fullback, it will be interesting to see how the Bulls use the new laws.There is a belief amongst the Bulls the new laws will influence the game in a big way – and one can assume the match on Saturday will be as much to come to grips with the laws as to be clinical and correct in execution on the field.Werner Kruger replaces injured Rayno Gerber at tighthead, and Wilhelm Steenkamp retains his place at lock in what could be a formidable combination with Rossouw.The Lions will announce their side for the Windhoek match on Thursday.* The Blue Bulls’ promising young lock Hendrik Roodt recovered from his lower back injury and will scrum in the second row when the Vodacom Cup team takes on the Lions Super 14 B-side in a warm-up match at Wits tonight (18h00).The hard running eighth­man Okkie Kruger, who played Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls last season, has been selected as Pieter Meyer’s partner at flank.The South African under 19-star Gerrit-Jan van Velze will wear the number 8-jersey.Bulls squad: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez (capt.), Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Deon Stegmann, Danie Rossouw, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp.Reserves: James van der Walt, Jaco Engels, Dean Greyling, Fudge Mabeta, Heini Adams, Morne Steyn, Danwell Demas, Hilton Lobberts, Deon Potgieter, John Mametsa, Marius Delport.Nampa-SapaFrom a national viewpoint it should be good news for De Villiers that three of the World Cup Springboks in the Bulls squad have recovered from injuries and are likely to be in the starting line-up.Bulls coach Frans Ludeke confirmed on Tuesday that Danie Rossouw, Gurthroe Steenkamp and Akona Ndungane would play against the Lions.More good news is that scrumhalf Heini Adams will return after a long absence.He was injured in the Bulls’ second Currie Cup match last year.To Ludeke, these developments represent the silver lining of a dark cloud.Injuries have been threatening to disrupt the squad’s preparations for their first Super 14 match of the season, against the Stormers in Cape Town on February 16.SHOW HIS ABILITY The Bulls will arrive in Namibia amid uncertainty about the fitness of hooker Chilliboy Ralepelle, props Rayno Gerber and Richard Bands, lock Bakkies Botha and loose forward Pierre Spies.The situation will put lock Wilhelm Steenkamp, hooker Derick Kuuen and prop Werner Kruger under pressure.The front-row problems may also present Dean Greyling with an opportunity to show his ability on the tighthead side.Greyling is a specialist loosehead prop but experts in Pretoria feel he has everything to make a name for himself on the other side.Meanwhile, the Bulls have included three of their previously injured World Cup Springboks in the side to play the Lions in a warm-up match on Saturday.Danie Rossouw, Gurthro Steenkamp and Akona Ndungane, have all been given the green light, and the starting lineup is arguably the best Frans Ludeke could have selected.Ludeke, who was not happy with the speed to the breakdown in last week’s first outing against the Boland Kavaliers, has also included young Deon Stegmann in place of Springbok Hilton Lobberts, who moves to the bench in an obvious effort to inject some pace into the pack.There is a view that the new laws can be used to speed up the game, but can also be used to great effect for the kicking game.Morne Steyn makes way at flyhalf to give Derick Hougaard a chance to start.With JP Nel and Wynand Olivier next to him, and Ndungane, Bryan Habana and new boy Zane Kirchner at fullback, it will be interesting to see how the Bulls use the new laws.There is a belief amongst the Bulls the new laws will influence the game in a big way – and one can assume the match on Saturday will be as much to come to grips with the laws as to be clinical and correct in execution on the field.Werner Kruger replaces injured Rayno Gerber at tighthead, and Wilhelm Steenkamp retains his place at lock in what could be a formidable combination with Rossouw.The Lions will announce their side for the Windhoek match on Thursday.* The Blue Bulls’ promising young lock Hendrik Roodt recovered from his lower back injury and will scrum in the second row when the Vodacom Cup team takes on the Lions Super 14 B-side in a warm-up match at Wits tonight (18h00).The hard running eighth­man Okkie Kruger, who played Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls last season, has been selected as Pieter Meyer’s partner at flank.The South African under 19-star Gerrit-Jan van Velze will wear the number 8-jersey.Bulls squad: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez (capt.), Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Deon Stegmann, Danie Rossouw, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp.Reserves: James van der Walt, Jaco Engels, Dean Greyling, Fudge Mabeta, Heini Adams, Morne Steyn, Danwell Demas, Hilton Lobberts, Deon Potgieter, John Mametsa, Marius Delport.Nampa-Sapa