Ken Borland

The Bulls may be the dominant force in South African rugby at the moment, but they will be fielding an exciting group of juniors in their opening preparation match against Eastern Province in Pretoria on Sunday, with coach Jake White entrusting them with starting new traditions at Loftus Versfeld.

“We will be unveiling our new jersey for the next couple of years and in many ways it goes back to our history, we want to remind the players what a privilege it is to play for the Bulls. A lot of work and design has gone into the jersey, and even the pants and socks are helluva important. I hope this team appreciates that the first time we wear this jersey we have given it to the next generation.

“These may just be friendlies, it’s not a competition, but it’s still Eastern Province versus Northern Transvaal and there’s a lot of culture that goes with that. I remember guys like Schalk Burger, George Rautenbach, Frans Erasmus and Danie Gerber playing for EP, so they have an unbelievably strong history and they want to revive that brand which is important for South African rugby,” White said on Friday.

So who are the exciting Bulls players to look out for on Sunday?

Janko Swanepoel

The two-metre SA U20 lock from 2019 hails from Durbanville and is an impressive athlete.

“Janko is an U21 Currie Cup winner and probably good enough to play four and five. He’s tall, really good in the lineouts and athletic, and I’m keen to see his combination with Jan Uys, who is a solid four,” White said.

Stravino Jacobs

Jacobs is a Paarl Gim product and an example of someone really taking their opportunities, the leading try-scorer in last year’s triumphant U21 campaign burst into the limelight in the latter stages of the Bulls senior team’s Currie Cup march.

“He’s certainly got something, he’s just turned 21 and there are exciting times ahead for him. I’m really looking forward to seeing him grow as a player, he’s gone from 108kg to 94kg since he’s been with us and has really put the effort in. Stravino is one of the guys I’m really excited about, from not being in the team he’s now the first name we put down at wing and he can become really important for the way we want to play as the Bulls,” White said.

WJ Steenkamp

The Grey College old boy began his Bulls career on the flank, but will play eighthman on Sunday.

“WJ is incredibly quick and will bring something different, I see him as an eighthman at the moment. I don’t see Tim Agaba as a No.8, I see him as a tall No.7, while Nizaam Carr has unbelievable skills and can play six, seven and eight. But I would like to see him as an openside flank, that way he could offer our first-choice team so much on the bench, it would mean he would be in every 23. Without Marco van Staden [Leicester-bound] we need some back-up,” White said.

Bulls team: David Kriel, Madosh Tambwe, Marnus Potgieter, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith, Embrose Papier, WJ Steenkamp, Tim Agaba, Nizaam Carr (c), Janko Swanepoel, Jan Uys, Mornay Smith, Joe van Zyl, Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench – Janco Uys, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard van der Merwe, Raynard Roets, Uzile Tele, Keagan Johannes, Jandre Burger, Diego Appollis, Reinhardt Ludwig, Werner Gouws, Dawid Kellerman.