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Bands back in Blue Bulls frame
28/02/2008 10:30 - (SA)
Pretoria - The Blue Bulls' Springbok prop Richard Bands is on the bench for Saturday's match at Loftus against the Natal Wildebeest.
According to the Blue Bulls' website, Bands was on the sideline for a couple of months due to a knee injury but he is currently in the form of his life and determined to fight his way back for a place in the Super 14 team.
Coach Nico Serfontein said it is the most motivated he has seen Bands and he is very excited to see him back in action.
"Richard is determined to prove a point and he wants to earn his place in the team. It is the hardest he has ever worked during the off season and I think his injury was well managed in the last few months.
"He knows how awful it is to sit and watch rugby from the stands and he sees this as a great opportunity to have a final go."
Apart from the positional switch in the front row, Serfontein did not make any other changes to the starting XV that lost against the Eagles, however, the former SA Schools hooker Henri Bantjes replaces Brett Sharman on the bench.
The positional switch sees Sangoni Mxoli moving back to tighthead while Dean Greyling will wear the No 1 jersey.
Serfontein said Mxoli is more comfortable at tighthead and Greyling prefers loosehead, but both these players would have benefited from the experience of playing out of position.
Blue Bulls:
Tiger Mangweni, Luvuyo Mhlobiso, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Rocco Jansen, Francois Brummer, Francois Hougaard, Okkie Kruger, Pieter Meyer (captain), Hilton Lobberts, Fudge Mabeta, Hendrik Roodt, Sangoni Mxoli, Bandise Maku, Dean Greyling.
Reserves: Henri Bantjes, Richard Bands, Juandre Kruger, Carel Hoffman, Ruan Snyman, Ruan Boshoff, Johan Jackson.
- Sport24
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