No Morne? No problem as Jake eagerly enlists growing Chris Smith
News24
21 May 2021, 22:13 GMT+10
Bulls mentor Jake White has happily selected Chris Smith to pull the strings at flyhalf against the Lions this weekend in Morne Steyn s absence.
Steyn is being rested as part of Springbok protocol and the Bulls are convinced Smith will slot in easily despite the threat of a desperate opposition.
Smith has had a surprisingly substantial amount of game time for a second-choicer and has seized those opportunities by playing steadily every time.
Bulls mentor Jake White, rightly, holds absolutely no reservations enlisting Chris Smith as his starting flyhalf for Saturday s PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA meeting with the Lions.
Covid could have the final say for SA teams in Rainbow Cup
Share
CAPE TOWN - The only realistic way the Springboks can prepare for the British & Irish Lions series is by the South African Rainbow Cup teams playing a few matches at home, before a few more in Europe.
At least, that is how former Bok coach and current Bulls director of rugby Jake White sees things at this stage.
There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Stormersâ entry into European rugby due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are still set to play in the Rainbow Cup from mid-April, which will be a precursor to a full-blown PRO16 tournament that will start in the next European season around August or September.
Jake sticks with same XV as Bulls take aim at Pumas
Share
CAPE TOWN - Bulls coach Jake White will be hoping for more of the same from his team after he gave them a vote of confidence by opting for an unchanged starting line-up for Tuesdayâs Preparation Series clash against the Pumas at Mbombela Stadium (7pm kickoff).
The Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup champions walloped Eastern Province 87-10 in their last encounter on February 28 at Loftus Versfeld, and White gave an opportunity to a number of players who didnât get much game time last season.
He chose to grant those men another chance to stake their claim for a place in the starting unit for the upcoming Rainbow Cup against the Pumas, who will be looking to pull off another win over the Bulls after emerging 44-14 victors in the Currie Cup.
By AFP - Agence France Presse January 10, 2021 Print Article
Veteran Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn started for the Bulls in a heavy South African Currie Cup loss to the Pumas Sunday. Christiaan Kotze Text size
Nigeria-born Luther Obi scored a try and created two others as the lowly Pumas trounced weakened league winners the Bulls 44-14 Sunday in the South African Currie Cup.
Obi, a 27-year-old winger who hails from southeastern Nigerian football stronghold Aba, triggered the final round romp in Mbombela with an eighth-minute try.
Later in the opening half, his passes enabled fellow winger Etienne Taljaard and flanker Daniel Maartens to score as the home side built a 34-7 half-time advantage.