Latest news with #ZakBurger
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls set for a true test as Pumas bring firepower to Loftus Versfeld
Scrumhalf Zak Burger will captain the Bulls against the Pumas in their Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld. Image: BackpagePix The Bulls will have a clear view of how their Currie Cup campaign is going after Saturday's match against the more seasoned Pumas in Pretoria. It's expected that they will receive a sterner test from the Nelspruit side and their battle-hardened players at Loftus Versfeld (5 pm start) after two relatively easy games against Western Province and the Sharks. Head coach Phiwe Nomlomo has selected a squad that mixes experience with youth, although he has lost a few seniors who were recalled to the United Rugby Championship (URC) squad. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Centre Stedman Gans and tighthead Francois Klopper had to be replaced after joining the senior URC side. The likes of eighth man Jeandre Rudolph, flanker Junior Pokomela, scrumhalf and captain Zak Burger, replacement loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka and the lock pairing of Marvin Orie and Sintu Manjezi still bring vast experience to the team. James Winstanley, assistant coach, said they are expecting a fierce contest in the set piece against the Pumas. The experience up front should be worth gold for the home side as they brace for the duel. 'They are a really well-oiled team that has been proficient over several years, and they have great cohesion, continuity and a blueprint that works for them on the field,' he said. 'However, they will be disappointed with last week (losing to the Cheetahs). We will have our first opportunity against a much older, experienced SA Cup qualifier. So, we foresee a much more difficult game on Saturday. 'We played against two youthful sides, but this next block of games looks very different against SA Cup sides. There is no point in dwelling on what has happened (in the first two matches). We were suitably prepared for them. Now, we enter a totally different challenge. After this match, we will know where we stand with our season' Burger takes over the captaincy from flanker Nama Xaba, who is nursing a minor injury. Powerful winger Stravino Jacobs is also on the sidelines, but according to Winstanley, it is only minor niggles, and the duo should be back in action next weekend. The Vodacom Bulls went full throttle at Loftus! 💥 A Carling #CurrieCup try-fest for the highlights reel!#WhereChampionsRise | #PremierRugbyRealPassion — The Carling Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) August 7, 2025
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls promote two to URC squad, now content with Currie Cup roster
Experienced players Francois Klopper and Stedman Gans are unlikely to feature in the Currie Cup again after being promoted, with the Bulls' squad now settled. After making a few changes ahead of their Currie Cup fixture against the Pumas, and promoting two players to the United Rugby Championship (URC) squad, the Bulls say their remaining squad will likely remain unchanged for the duration of the Currie Cup. The Bulls included several senior and fringe players in their matchday 23s that beat the Western Province 48–23 and the Sharks 64–0 (both teams that have opted to play even younger sides) while gradually promoting players to the URC squad that will feature from next month. The team facing the Pumas at Loftus at 3pm on Saturday includes two debutants: former Grey College prop Casper Badenhorst and Selborne College old boy Daimon O'Connel, a scrumhalf. That takes the number of debutants up to 11 so far, with assistant coaches James Winstanley and Josh Strauss saying there could be six or seven more. Klopper and Gans promoted Still, with senior players Francois Klopper and Stedman Gans (a former Blitzboks star) being promoted to the URC side after good performances, the Bulls coaches said they have more or less a settled squad for the rest of the tournament. 'In the coming weeks, we need to service four teams, being the URC, the Currie Cup, U21 and U19 teams. So we are in the process now of how we are going to allocate players across the various groups,' Winstanley said. 'But we do have a core group that will remain throughout the Currie Cup. It's anticipated that that group will stay and there won't be any changes as we move towards the tail-end. 'In previous seasons and at other franchises, you see the URC players come into the Currie Cup. As it stands now, we have a Currie Cup squad that will complete the tournament.' Zak Burger to captain the Bulls against Pumas Scrumhalf Zak Burger captains the team on Saturday in the absence of Nama Xaba, who along with experienced centre Stravino Jacobs, picked up a small injury. The pair should be back in a week or two. Strauss backed Burger, Jeandré Rudolph and Springbok lock Marvin Orie to provide leadership in what is still a fairly young side. JJ Theron comes in for Xaba at flanker, Jean Erasmus replaces Klopper at tighthead and Aphiwe Dyantyi shifts to wing to accommodate Katlego Letebele on the right. Cornel Smit also gets his first start, in place of Gans. Bulls starting XV: Boeta Chamberlain, Katlego Letebele, Cornel Smit, Chris Smit, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Jaco van der Walt, Zak Burger (Capt), Jeandre Rudolph, JJ Theron, Junior Pokomela, Marvin Orie, Sintu Manjezi, Jean Erasmus, Juann Else, Dylan Smith. Bench: Esethu Mnebelele, Lizo Gqoboka, Casper Badenhorst, Dylan de Leeuw, Jaco Grobbelaar, Marco Ferreira, Daimon O'Connel, PA van Niekerk.
