Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named an unchanged side to face the Sharks on Friday and the same match 22 that outclassed the Toyota Cheetahs last weekend, will again have to deliver the goods in Durban.
Ludeke said team selection this week was straight forward.
“Everyone is fit and ready to go. They showed against the Cheetahs that they are up to the task and are on form. Momentum is a very important factor at this stage of the competition and it is something we have now.”
He is expecting a massive onslaught from the home side.
“We will have to be able to answer some tough questions out there on Friday,” Ludeke said.
“I would like to believe that our team thrive on challenges and the bigger they are, the better we respond. This is why the guys put in the hours and hours of hard work after all. They want to be out there when the challenge is at its biggest and toughest. We prepared well and everyone is very keen to do well. We still have our destiny in our own hands and want to keep it like that.”
The team (with Super caps) is:
Zane Kirchner (68), Akona Ndungane (81), JJ Engelbrecht (14), Wynand Olivier (100), Bjorn Basson (39), MornèSteyn (103), Francois Hougaard (42), Pierre Spies (86, c), Jacques Potgieter (10), Dewald Potgieter (51), Juandrè Kruger (14), Flip van der Merwe (46), Werner Kruger (72), Chiliboy Ralepelle (49), Dean Greyling (27).
Replacements: Willie Wepener (50), Frik Kirsten (12), Wilhelm Steenkamp (49), CJ Stander (14), Jano Vermaak (85), Louis Fouchè(7), Francois Venter (5).
Milestones:
• Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle will play in his 50th Super match for the Vodacom Bulls after making his debut in 2006 against the Cheetahs.
• Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will play in his 50th Super match if he takes the field. He debuted in 2008 for the Vodacom Bulls against the Stormers and has also played for The Sharks (5 matches) and Cheetahs (13 matches).
•No South African has scored more points in Super Rugby than flyhalf Mornè Steyn (1176 points: 11 tries, 213 penalties, 205 conversions, 24 drop goals). He could improve on this feat.
•Wynand Olivier is the most experienced South African midfielder ever in Super Rugby. He will play in his 101st match (28 tries, 140 points).
•Bjorn Basson (nine tries) can extend the tries in a season record (shares with Bryan Habana) if he scores again this season.