Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen returns to the starting line-up in a timely boost to his side ahead of their showdown with Italian side Benetton in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Goosen, who was red-carded against Munster for a dangerous tackle, completed the remedy set out by the URC disciplinary committee, and returned a week earlier than his three week ban would have forced him to.
His return means Chris Smith returns to the bench for the match as the Bulls look to press home their top 4 advantage against the Italian side.
“It’s nice to have a guy like Johan return because you know what he offers. Saying all of that, Chris (Smith) is also highly rated in our fold, he is not flashy and very consistent and so that makes for nice competition for the jersey,” Director of Rugby Jake White said in response.
Elsewhere, Sebastian de Klerk and Keegan Johannes return as wing and scrumhalf cover on the bench while the rest of the squad is left unchanged.
‼️TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT‼️
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 17, 2024
🏉Vodacom Bulls vs Benetton
🗓️18 May 2024
đź“ŤLoftus Versfeld
⏰Kick-Off: 14:00
🎟️TICKETS: https://t.co/h0JIeRfxjO @Vodacom #URC#RaceToTheEight | #BackTheBulls pic.twitter.com/uZGrn32kZ9
The Bulls could end first if they still win their remaing two games and other results go their way, or end fourth if other teams win away from home this weekend.
And White openly laughed that he was a Lions’ supporter this weekend as they face log leaders Glasgow Warriors in Johannesburg just after the Bulls game.
“This weekend has so many permutations still. We could win and still remain in fourth. That is what’s nice about the competition, it all goes down to the final weekend,” he said.
'A DANGEROUS SIDE'
But for White the momentum the Bulls are currently building is something exceptional, and while he acknowledges there was a momentary lapse of concentration as the side let Glasgow in last weekend to claim two vital bonus points in the last 20 minutes, the way the Bulls played in the first 60 was key to what they want to achieve.
“That was as close as you would get to perfect. To be 37-10 up against the log leaders, with 20 minutes to go, you can understand that some players would think the game was won. We want to replicate what we did for those 60 minutes, but for the last 20 as well.
“Thats what you want to do, you want to play your best three games in the last 3 of your season. That doesn’t help if you don’t make the quarterfinals, because then it doesn’t matter. But ideally you want to build towards your best three games in the quarters, semis and final.”
White said Benetton are a dangerous side, who have been involved in a number of high-scoring clashes this season.
“They are seasoned internationals who have played for Italy and did well against England. They beat the sharks last week in Durban with a good team, nothing makeshift,”
“They deserve to be in the top eight as they currently are now and they beat us in the Rainbow Cup a few years ago. There is no reason for us to underestimate them,”
“They have done well, recruited well and their season has been good and they have beaten some good teams as well.”
But the Bulls will want that victory to edge them closer to a home playoff game in the quarterfinals, and the possibility of more home games beyond that.
Rugby is our favorite season ⚡️👀🤝
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 17, 2024
SEE YOU SATURDAY 🏆
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Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (captain), Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Akker van der Merwe, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smith, Sebastian de Klerk.