Gary Botha Leads Bulls

Gary Botha is back at the helm of the Vodacom Blue Bulls and will lead the team on the field in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, when they take on the Eastern Province Elephants in a compulsory friendly.

Botha last played for the Blue Bulls in 2007 and missed the 2008 and 2009 Currie Cup seasons due to commitments with Harlequins in the English Premiership.  He made a successful return to Pretoria for the Bulls during the Super 14 and is rewarded with the captaincy in what looks a fairly inexperienced Blue Bulls side.

Injuries to Akona Ndungane, John Mametsa, Gerhard van den Heever, Deon Stegmann and Jaco Pretorius, combined with their 11 Springbok call-ups, have left the Blue Bulls a little short on players who won them the Super 14. The injuries to van den Heever, Stegmann and Mametsa are not thought to be serious and they could all be in line for a starting berth when the Currie Cup kicks off next weekend.

He is joined by a number of former players now back with the daisy on the chest.

Jaco van der Westhuyzen (Japan), Juandré Kruger (England) and Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Free State) are also back in light blue, while Hayden Groepes (Boland) is on loan from the south and gets a chance to impress. Bees Roux (Griquas) also changed into a lighter shade of blue.

Numerous Vodacom Cup-players will make their debuts for the Currie Cup side, including Vainon Willis, Okkie Kruger, CJ Stander, Danie Faasen and Clayton Blommetjies.

Blue Bulls: Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Vainon Willis, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Hayden Groepes, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Derick Kuün, Okkie Kruger, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Fudge Mabeta, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (c), Jaco Engels. Replacements: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Jeandré Kruger, CJ Stander, Danie Faasen, Francois Brummer, Clayton Blommetjies.