Bulls coach Nollis Marais loves it when a good plan comes together.
The said plan is what the coach regards as one of his best buys in his first season as head honcho of the Pretoria side’s Super Rugby team – former Eastern Province Kings loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka.
The Ntabankulu-born prop will be getting his second consecutive start for the Bulls team today when they take on the Cheetahs, after making an appearance from the bench in the side’s first three matches of the season.
Considering the burly front-rower’s efforts in the Bulls’ 30-27 win over the Sunwolves in Singapore last weekend and his gradual progression in his first Super Rugby season, Marais beams when he talks about the 26-year-old.
“From last year when the Kings were in turmoil we decided that we wanted Lizo.
“I told Xander that it didn’t matter if we were going to go on leave in December, we were not going to go anywhere without getting him,” the coach said.
“I think he is a huge prospect. We started bringing him in slowly in the matches. I had a discussion with him and Trevor saying that we needed to give Lizo a start. We needed to bring him through, and he has been very good.”
Gqoboka’s presence will be of high importance this weekend against a Cheetahs side that has shown great strength in the set pieces, particularly the scrums.
The clash at Loftus Versfeld will, as per usual, prove to be a heavy battle of the forwards.
“The Cheetahs have always been a good scrumming outfit,” Bulls scrum coach Gary Botha said. “They have a good front row and a good bench. I think it will be a pressure-load contest in the scrums. We have to be on top of our game and concentrate for a full 80 minutes.”
At the start of the season Botha was the first to admit his displeasure at the Bulls forwards’ performance, especially after their 9-33 defeat to the Stormers in their opening match.
The former Bulls and Bok hooker is now singing a different, happier tune. “Hats off to the guys – Marcel , Trevor, Adriaan , Lizo, Pierre and Hencus . Those guys have really worked hard,” Botha said.
“From day one we had a system that we wanted to put in place, but we knew that a new system does not just grow overnight.
“They have been able to implement and stick to the system. They are also finding it much more comfortable and it is working for them.
“It is easy to work with guys who believe in something. Also confidence is contagious, and so is a lack of it. I think they are now a more confident unit.”
Gqoboka will form part of a starting front row that includes captain Strauss and tighthead Van der Merwe.
They can expect to have their work cut out against a Cheetahs trio that includes former SA U20 loosehead Ox Nche, hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld and Johan Coetzee.
Jacques du Toit, Charles Marais and Maks van Dyk will be called on to make an impact from the bench for the Free State side. So too will Nyakane, Bandise Maku and Schoeman for the Bulls.
The match kicks off at 7.15pm.
Goodbye EP, good buy Bulls
The said plan is what the coach regards as one of his best buys in his first season as head honcho of the Pretoria side’s Super Rugby team – former Eastern Province Kings loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka.
The Ntabankulu-born prop will be getting his second consecutive start for the Bulls team today when they take on the Cheetahs, after making an appearance from the bench in the side’s first three matches of the season.
Considering the burly front-rower’s efforts in the Bulls’ 30-27 win over the Sunwolves in Singapore last weekend and his gradual progression in his first Super Rugby season, Marais beams when he talks about the 26-year-old.
“From last year when the Kings were in turmoil we decided that we wanted Lizo.
“I told Xander that it didn’t matter if we were going to go on leave in December, we were not going to go anywhere without getting him,” the coach said.
“I think he is a huge prospect. We started bringing him in slowly in the matches. I had a discussion with him and Trevor saying that we needed to give Lizo a start. We needed to bring him through, and he has been very good.”
Gqoboka’s presence will be of high importance this weekend against a Cheetahs side that has shown great strength in the set pieces, particularly the scrums.
The clash at Loftus Versfeld will, as per usual, prove to be a heavy battle of the forwards.
“The Cheetahs have always been a good scrumming outfit,” Bulls scrum coach Gary Botha said. “They have a good front row and a good bench. I think it will be a pressure-load contest in the scrums. We have to be on top of our game and concentrate for a full 80 minutes.”
At the start of the season Botha was the first to admit his displeasure at the Bulls forwards’ performance, especially after their 9-33 defeat to the Stormers in their opening match.
The former Bulls and Bok hooker is now singing a different, happier tune. “Hats off to the guys – Marcel , Trevor, Adriaan , Lizo, Pierre and Hencus . Those guys have really worked hard,” Botha said.
“From day one we had a system that we wanted to put in place, but we knew that a new system does not just grow overnight.
“They have been able to implement and stick to the system. They are also finding it much more comfortable and it is working for them.
“It is easy to work with guys who believe in something. Also confidence is contagious, and so is a lack of it. I think they are now a more confident unit.”
Gqoboka will form part of a starting front row that includes captain Strauss and tighthead Van der Merwe.
They can expect to have their work cut out against a Cheetahs trio that includes former SA U20 loosehead Ox Nche, hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld and Johan Coetzee.
Jacques du Toit, Charles Marais and Maks van Dyk will be called on to make an impact from the bench for the Free State side. So too will Nyakane, Bandise Maku and Schoeman for the Bulls.
The match kicks off at 7.15pm.
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