Basson, Olivier back for Bulls

Returning Springboks Wynand Olivier and Bjorn Basson will be amongst the four new faces in the Vodacom Blue Bulls backline for their Absa Currie Cup clash against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

Olivier and Basson, who will play in his first Currie Cup match for the Blue Bulls, recovered from niggles that prevented their participation in last weekend’s match against the Lions and has been included in the side, along with Marnitz Boshoff and Jurgen Visser.

Both were on the bench last weekend and Boshoff will earn a first start for the province he captained at u.21-level last year.

In another move, coach Pine Pienaar moved Zane Kirchner to outside centre and handed the number 15 jersey to Visser, who played in that position against Western Province two weeks ago.

Jano Vermaak will also make his Blue Bulls debut since transferring from the Golden Lions during the week.

“It is a new backline, but one that I am really excited about,” Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar said.

“We are happy to welcome Jano to our midst and I know he will make a massive contribution in our long climb to the top four. Jurgen has an attacking mindset and I would expect him to play accordingly and Marnitz deserve a chance after being on the bench in the first four matches.”

Pienaar was also happy with Olivier and Basson’s return.

“They are international players and proven at this level. They will make a massive difference,” Pienaar said.

“The Pumas have shown that big names mean nothing to them and are a very tough nut to crack. We will have to play our best rugby of the season for the full 80 minutes if we want to achieve victory,” he said.

Pienaar also named Vodacom Blue Bulls u.21-players Arno Botha and Louis Fouché on the bench, as well as regular Vodacom Cup captain, Gerrit-Jan van Velze.

Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Francois Brummer, Lohan Jacobs, Derick Kuün and Fudge Mabeta fall out of the match 22.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls team is:

Jurgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Marnitz Boshoff, Jano Vermaak, CJ Stander, Dewald Potgieter (c), Deon Stegmann, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Gary Botha, Rossouw de Klerk, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Arno Botha, Dustin Jinka, Louis Fouché, Francois Venter.

Tags: Bjorn Basson, Blue Bulls, Currie Cup 2011, Wynand Olivier