The Border Bulldogs will welcome a return to familiar surroundings when they open their SuperSport Rugby Challenge campaign against the Zimbabwe Academy team at the BCM Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs are hosting the first SuperSport Rugby Challenge Festival of the season, which includes a match between the SWD Eagles and Western Province, with a last-minute change of venue being confirmed by SA Rugby on Friday.
Due to the recent heavy rain, the original venue, the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, has become too waterlogged and with player safety in question, it was decided to move the match to the Bulldogs’ regular home, the BCM Stadium.
The home side will hopefully gain a boost from playing in familiar surroundings and with their side featuring a large contingent of players who played for the team last year, it almost seems that not much has changed despite the turmoil that has surrounded the union since last November.
“We were ready to play at the Sisa. Most of the guys come from Mdantsane so they were looking forward to it, but they are now ready to play back at the Buffalo City Stadium,” said Bulldogs coach Tiger Mangweni.
“I don't think it will be much different supporter wise because we are expecting a lot of people to travel in for the game from other places. We should get a really good crowd. But the team is excited to be back at home. I think it has come at the right time and it will give us a boost playing there, especially with us playing for our pride.”
A number of players in the Bulldogs squad will be in line to make their provincial rugby debuts on Sunday.
In the starting XV, prop Siphosentsika Daka from Police Rugby Club and fullback Sphelele Zono from Swallows will make their debuts.
This while props Edwin Nxumalo (Fort Hare) and Thabo Ntunja (Swallows), utility forward Lwando Ntetha (Fort Hare) and utility back Siphesihle Thunguzwa (Police) can make their debut off the bench during the game.
“It is going to be exciting. These guys have played well for their clubs this year and deserve to get this chance to play for the Bulldogs,” admitted Mangweni.
“Most of the players have played for the team before and they know each other so they should easily be able to get back into it. We have retained Billy Dutton as captain, so that will make things a lot easier and I believe he will lead the team very well.”
The Zimbabwe Academy will pose a unique challenge for the Bulldogs – with them being an unknown quantity.
With this their first foray into the SuperSport Rugby Challenge, they will also be trying to find their feet and the Bulldogs could look to take advantage of this fact, despite their lack of match practice as a team so far.
“We are looking forward to the challenge of the Zimbabwe Academy, but we will not underestimate any team in the competition,” said Mangweni. “We do not know much about them, so we will only be able to see what they bring on the day, but the team is confident and ready for them.”
The action gets under way at 12.30pm on Sunday with the Eagles taking on WP, while the Bulldogs v Zimbabwe Academy follows at 2.30pm. Entry to the festival is free.
Bulldogs team: Blake Kyd; Mihlali Mpafi, Siphosentsika Daka, Lindokuhle Welemu, Mihlali Mosi; Onke Dubase, Billy Dutton (capt); Athenkosi Manentsa, Bangihlombe Kobese, Aphiwe Stemele, Lelethu Gcillitshane, Sethu Tom, Lonwabo Ntleki, Siphosenkosi Nofemele, Sphelele Zono. Reserves: Lubabalo Lento, Edwin Nxumalo, Thabo Ntunja, Lwando Ntetha, Siphesihle Thunguzwa, Anele Zweni, Lwandile Maphuko...