Combrinck at fullback for Bulls

Springbok veteran Ruan Combrinck has been brought in at fullback for the Vodacom Bulls ahead of their round two Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Connacht in Galway on Friday night.

Combrinck has had little game time since joining the Bulls and making a comeback after farming and will get a taste of some inclement weather with the forecast being for wind and rain on Friday night.

His kicking options have been the main reason why coach Jake White has brought him into the side.

“Combrinck gives us left and right footed options from the back and he has the experience in what promises to be some tough conditions. To be fair he deserves some game time, and we want to have a look at him,” White said.

White led a Springbok team to a tough 18-3 win over Connacht before the 2007 Rugby World Cup and knows how difficult it can be there. He believes the conditions will suit Combrinck to a tee.

“It suits him as his game is all about kicking - the wind will make it difficult for him as well, and I don’t think there will be that much attack - he is solid under the high ball and is a Springbok. We’ve been lucky up until now that we have David Kriel, who has played almost every game until now and we need to find a good back-up to him.”

Combrinck’s move to fullback will mean that Stravino Jacobs will take over the number 11 jersey, while a new front row is on the card with props Lizo Gqoboka and Jacques van Rooyen packing down with hooker Joe van Zyl. 

“We have another tough encounter ahead of us. To face two top Irish sides back-to-back is no easy challenge,” said White. 

“Connacht is a strong, well-coached side; and they will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Cardiff in the opening round.

“We have also put the defeat to Leinster behind us, and we look forward to testing ourselves, again this week, against another quality outfit in the Vodacom United Rugby Challenge.”

The match will be televised on SuperSport and kicks off at 8:35pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).  

VODACOM BULLS: Ruan Combrinck, Cornal Hendricks, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Johan Goosen, Zak Burger;  Elrigh Louw, Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Ruan Nortje, Walt Steenkamp, Jacques van Rooyen, Joe van Zyl, Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements:  Bismarck du Plessis, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Janko Swanepoel, Jacques du Plesiss, Embrose Papier, Chris Smith, Stedman Gans.