/ 25 March 2008

Spies back for the Bulls

Pierre Spies has been included in the Bulls side to play the Blues in a Super 14 match in Auckland on Saturday. The inclusion of the Springbok number eight is a major boost for the defending champions, who have won only two of their six matches to date and were outplayed by two of the competition's weaker sides over the past two weekends.

Pierre Spies has been included in the Bulls side to play the Blues in a Super 14 match in Auckland on Saturday.

The inclusion of the Springbok number eight is a major boost for the defending champions, who have won only two of their six matches to date and were outplayed by two of the competition’s weaker sides over the past two weekends.

Coach Frans Ludeke has made three changes and a positional switch to the starting line-up, with Spies coming in as number eight in place of Pedrie Wannenburg, who in turn moves to flank in place of Deon Stegmann.

Bryan Habana has recovered from his shoulder injury and replaces Danwel Demas on the left wing, and Zane Kirchner returns at fullback after his two-match suspension. He replaces Morne Steyn who, like Stegmann, moves to the bench.

Spies only arrived in Auckland from Pretoria on Tuesday, but coach Frans Ludeke had no hesitation in including him for his first match since he was forced of the field before the World Cup because of pulmonary embolism he sustained. — Sapa

Team: Zane Kirchner; Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez (captain); Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg; Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha; Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuün, Gurthro Steenkamp. Replacements: Bandise Maku, Werner Kruger, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Heini Adams, Morne Steyn.