The Vodacom Blue Bulls made their intentions clear ahead of their Carling Currie Cup clash with Tafel Lager Griquas on Saturday, including no less than seven Springboks in a team laden with talent.
With the Bulls intent on defending their Currie Cup title, the move is still surprising as most of the players involved were in Italy last weekend for the side’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship win over Zebre.
Leading the charge is captain Marcell Coetzee, who will lead the team out again, while others that will raise eyebrows are Springboks Bismarck du Plessis, Arno Botha, Embrose Papier and Cornal Hendricks in the backline.
On the bench Springboks Lizo Gqoboka and Lionel Mapoe give the team loads of experience.
And then there are the Sevens Boks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Stedman Gans in the starting line-up bolstering the team as well.
And while all the attention will go to the Boks in the side, the likes of Simphiwe Matanzima, Walt Steenkamp, Muller Uys, Canan Moodie and Chris Smith aren’t exactly shrinking violets either.
The Bulls are currently third in the Currie Cup, behind the two unbeaten sides in the competition - the Cell C Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs and need the away win to continue their momentum upwards.
The Bulls previously fielded several of their top stars in their opening two games in the competition, prompting criticism from their competitors but have made no secret of their despire to win their third Currie Cup in a row.
But their march was stunted by a home loss to the Cheetahs.
Griquas have shown to be more than just competitive in the Currie Cup as they beat Western Province in Cape Town and have aimed to at least emulate last season’s semifinal appearance in the competition.
Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse; Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans, Cornal Hendricks, Richard Kriel; Chris Smith, Embrose Papier; Muller Uys, Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Janko Swanepoel, Walt Steenkamp, Robert Hunt, Bismarck du Plessis, Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: Schalk Erasmus, Lizo Gqoboka, Kowie Roos, Reinhardt Ludwig, WJ Steenkamp, WJ Steenkamp, Keagan Johannes, Juan Mostert, Lionel Mapoe.