Grobbelaar named at hooker for Carling Currie Cup final

Jake White has made only one change to the Vodacom Bulls’ match day squad for the Carling Currie Cup final in Pretoria on Saturday, with an experienced and settled team named to take on the Cell C Sharks.

The match at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 15h00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The only change to the Vodacom Bulls’ starting team that beat the Xerox Lions in the semi-final last weekend, is at hooker, where Johan Grobbelaar will wear the No 2 jersey, with Schalk Erasmus providing cover on the bench.

Duane Vermeulen will again lead the Vodacom Bulls from the back of the scrum, alongside his fellow Springbok loose forward Marco van Staden, and the exciting Elrigh Louw.

Two more Springbok forwards were named in the team in props Trevor Nyakane and Lizo Gqoboka, who will pack down on either side of Grobbelaar.

Who will lift the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday - Lukhanyo Am or Duane Vermeulen?

Marco Jansen van Vuren will again start at outside centre after coming in as a late replacement last week for Blitzbok Stedman Gans.

White named three Boks in the backline, in the experienced Morné Steyn (flyhalf), Ivan van Zyl (scrumhalf) and Cornal Hendricks (centre), while former SA Schools sensation Stravino Jacobs has retained the No 11 jersey after scoring two tries last weekend.

“We have secured a place in the final but we still have 80 minutes to play,” said White.

“There are no second chances in playoff rugby and our opponents are just as eager to lift this coveted trophy. Our job is to prevent this from happening and ensuring that the Carling Currie Cup returns to Loftus Versfeld.”

Vodacom Bulls – 15 David Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements (from): 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jan Uys, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marnus Potgieter, 24 Nizaam Carr, 25 Gerhard Steenekamp, 26 Keagan Johannes, 27 Jade Stighling.

Carling Currie Cup Final match information:

Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks
Date: Saturday, 30 January 2021
Time: 15h00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs and Griffin Colby
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Reserve Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
TV: SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby

Carling Currie Cup Vodacom Bulls Loftus Versfeld Jake White

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