The Vodacom Bulls have selected a wildcard in powerhouse winger Stravino Jacobs at inside centre as coach Johan Ackermann made several changes to his backline as they prepare for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship round two fixture against Munster in Limerick.
With midfield hardman Harold Vorster taking ill this week, coach Johan Ackermann has taken the opportunity to unleash the powerful Jacobs, who is known for his hard running on the wing, and moved him inside to give him more ball in hand.
As a big ball carrier, Jacobs makes a lot of sense for the Bulls, and he certainly is no stranger to the physical part of the game; given they lost David Kriel to La Rochelle in the off-season, the move is a very interesting one.
Jacobs has been a project at 12 for some time, and the Bulls have been training him there for a long time in the off-season. Saturday will be a key moment for him to show what he has learnt.
Your Vodacom Bulls side to face Munster.
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“In the midweek, Harold felt a bit sick and the medical staff said it was a safe bet not to play him this weekend, so we decided on Stravino,” Ackermann said.
“We are excited to see what he can do in the wing position. Hakeem (Kunene) was originally announced on the bench and the move opened the slot for him to come in and Cheswill Jooste will be on the bench now with Hakeem at 15.”
Ackermann said Jacobs’ power game is something that has him excited, and he can’t wait to see what he can do.
“Stravino has shown that he has the power in the running game and as a ball carrier, it is a big strength of his to have the ball in hand. We are excited to see what he can do with more ball in hand. We know it is not guaranteed but on the wing you don’t necessarily touch the ball more, and we feel he will have more ball in hand.
“He reminds me a bit of guys like Ruan Combrinck and Caleb Clarke, a physically powerful player and I’m excited to see what he can do.
“Defensively he has always been good and it is mainly loose forwards that run at you when you are at 12, so he should be able to handle that,” Ackermann added.
While the pack is the same, Zak Burger comes in as a rotational switch at nine for Paul de Wet, Thaakir Abrahams is in at 11 and will face his former club, and Kunene is at fullback.
On the bench, Mornay Smith’s ankle injury means Khutha Mchunu will get a chance alongside Sti Sithole and Janco Uys as the back-up front row.
VODACOM BULLS STARTING XV:
15. Hakeem Kunene, 14. Sebastian de Klerk, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Stravino Jacobs, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Jeandre Rudolph, 7. Hanro Liebenberg, 6. Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 3. Francois Klopper, 2. Juann Else, 1. Alu Tshakweni.
Replacements:
16. Janco Uys, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. JF van Heerden, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Paul de Wet, 22. Cheswill Jooste, 23. Willie le Roux.