Bulls must dish up some sparkling tries to honour Cornal

IOL News

17-05-2025

Akker van der Merwe Hooker Akker van der Merwe is back in the Bulls starting line-up to face the Dragons. Photo: BackpagePix
The Bulls have done a great job of honouring Cornal Hendricks this week after his sudden death on Wednesday night.
The Pretoria side will continue to do so in the coming weeks, and indeed in today's United Rugby Championship clash against the Dragons at Loftus Versfeld (3pm start).
There will be a round of applause in the 14th minute to acknowledge Hendricks' No 14 jersey for the Bulls and Springboks over the years.
They had asked the fans to post messages on social media and at Loftus this week, which will continue until next week.
But the best way coach Jake White and his team can pay tribute to Hendricks is by producing a stellar performance and grabbing five log points against the Dragons.
That won't be as easy as it sounds, even though the Welsh club are at the bottom of the log.
White spoke at his team-announcement press conference yesterday about the emotion of Hendricks' passing, as he was a popular figure around Loftus.
The coach mentioned that fullback Willie le Roux had walked a long road with Hendricks from their Boland days together.
There were many others who were very close to Hendricks at the Bulls, such as his former centre partner Stedman Gans, who is on the bench against the Dragons, as well as loose forward Nizaam Carr.
But as much as the situation would spur the Bulls into action, it can also become a bit overwhelming and result in a loss of concentration.
The home side can't afford any slip-ups, as they are hoping to hold onto second place on the log to secure a Loftus semi-final, having already secured a quarter-final in Pretoria in two weeks' time.
With the Bulls' lofty log position and playoff spot already claimed, White had the luxury to rest a few stalwarts when he named his team yesterday.
Tighthead prop Wilco Louw is at the top of that list, having been a rock in the scrums in particular, while centre Harold Vorster and flank Marco van Staden also got the weekend off.
However, White opted to keep a number of first-choice figures on the pitch, such as captain Ruan Nortjé, No 8 Cameron Hanekom, fullback Willie le Roux and No 12 David Kriel.
The interesting selection was moving Canan Moodie to outside centre, despite the Springbok utility back having starred at wing in recent games.
It may have been a better bet to give Gans a start instead, and the same applies to someone like No 8 Mpilo Gumede.
Marcell Coetzee is also on the bench, and he's another who could have been given time off before the quarter-final on May 31 – as could flyhalf Keagan Johannes, especially with Johan Goosen out injured.
The Bulls have enough firepower to douse the Dragons' fire, with the likes of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Akker van der Merwe, Cobus Wiese, Nama Xaba at openside flank and Hanekom at No 8, and those forwards will generate plenty of front-foot ball for Moodie and Sergeal Petersen to find holes in the defence.
Hopefully the Bulls can dish up a few sparkling tries to celebrate the life of Hendricks.
Bulls Team
15 Willie le Roux 14 Sebastian de Klerk 13 Canan Moodie 12 David Kriel 11 Sergeal Petersen 10 Keagan Johannes 9 Zak Burger 8 Cameron Hanekom 7 Ruan Nortjé (captain) 6 Nama Xaba 5 JF van Heerden 4 Cobus Wiese 3 Mornay Smith 2 Akker van der Merwe 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar 17 Simphiwe Matanzima 18 Francois Klopper 19 Jannes Kirsten 20 Marcell Coetzee 21 Bernard van der Linde 22 Stedman Gans 23 Devon Williams.