Bulls make one change for Super 14 final

GERALD IMRAY
May 26, 2010 - 6:44PM


Wing Gerhard van den Heever was included after suspension as the Bulls made one change to their team on Wednesday for Saturday's Super 14 final against the Stormers.

Van den Heever, the Bulls' leading tryscorer with eight tries, replaced Jaco van der Westhuyzen in the team.

All but two of the Bulls' starting 15 have won the Super 14 before, with only van den Heever and fellow winger Francois Hougaard new to a final.

Victor Matfield, captain of the Pretoria team, said that experience is a bonus.

"It is good to know that the guys have been there before, but we still need to convert that into pressure and make sure we create and use opportunities."

The final will be played at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg's Soweto township, as the Bulls' Loftus Versfeld stadium was being prepared for the World Cup.

The Bulls made a successful debut at Orlando in last weekend's semi-final win over Canterbury - the first major rugby match in Soweto.

"The guys have worked very hard to get this far," coach Frans Ludeke said.

"We have created the opportunity to be part of something special, now we need to embrace it."

The Cape-Town based Stormers have qualified for their first Super 14 final, and coach Allister Coetzee has said his team will be boosted by the presence of former Bulls wing Bryan Habana, who won the Super 14 with them in 2007 and 2009 before switching teams.

The Bulls have won 19 successive home games, 18 at Loftus and last week's semi-final win at Orlando.

"The Bulls away, up in Joburg is going to be one hell of a clash. The job is 50 per cent done," Coetzee said on the Stormers website.

"I mentioned last week this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we should take the last chance to win a Super 14 because it changes next year."

The competition will be expanded to 15 teams in 2011 with the addition of Australia's Melbourne Rebels.

The Bulls will get to keep the Super 14 trophy if they win it for a third time on Saturday.

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield (capt), Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Pierre Spies. Res: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Flip van der Merwe, Derick Kuun, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Pedrie Wannenburg.

© 2010 AP