Ken Borland

Players arriving at a union normally have to earn a starting place through proving their worth over a period of time, but Bulls coach Jake White is so sure of Walt Steenkamp’s abilities that the former Free State Cheetahs lock has been vaulted straight into the starting line-up for Saturday’s Super Rugby Unlocked match against the Lions at Ellis Park.

The introduction of Steenkamp, replacing Ruan Nortje, who has an injury niggle, is the only change to the Bulls team that thumped the Stormers last weekend in such impressive fashion. The 25-year-old from Rustenburg, who only arrived in Pretoria at the start of the week, leapfrogs Sintu Manjezi, who stays on the bench partly because he can play in both the number four or number five jerseys.

“I signed Walt on the basis that I wanted to use him, and with Ruan Nortje having a bump on his knee I didn’t want to risk him as a 22-year-old who has played every minute for us so far. So it’s a good chance to give Walt an opportunity, he has played well for the Cheetahs, who are an unbeaten team, and he will bring that confidence, he knows how to win.

“Walt is 120kg, more than two metres tall and a mean scrummager. That’s my kind of forward – I want the biggest, meanest, strongest Bulls pack ever. It’s also Jason Jenkins’ last week with us before he goes back to Japan, so maybe next week we will play Ruan and Sintu. I thought Sintu would be a No.5 for us, but he can double up and is maybe more of a No.2 jumper, No.4 lock,” White said after announcing his team on Thursday.

While White is busy assembling some marvellous talent at Loftus Versfeld, he stressed on Thursday what a large part his two veterans – flyhalf Morne Steyn and eighthman Duane Vermeulen – are playing in their success so far.

“Morne has been fantastic for us and there’s no doubt he’s playing really good rugby. Of course the pack of forwards have helped him, as has Fourie du Preez helping with the scrumhalves and that has seen Ivan van Zyl blossoming. But Morne, at his age now, is clever enough to know what works for him and what doesn’t. The line is going nicely, he’s gelling with his centres and everyone around him just gets confidence from how he’s playing.

“Duane is also very important for us and you can see the difference when he doesn’t play. He just gives calmness and confidence to the team and he likes direction, structure and clarity. The way he thinks about the game, the way he understands lineouts and scrums, is also very important. He gives the juniors unbelievable confidence because he is so experienced,” White said.

Bulls team:  David Kriel, Travis Ismaiel, Stedman Gans, Cornal Hendricks, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Morné Steyn, Ivan van Zyl, Duane Vermeulen (C), Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Walt Steenkamp, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Johan Grobbelaar, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements – Joe van Zyl, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marcel van der Merwe, Sintu Manjezi, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Chris Smith, Marco Jansen van Vuren.

The Knights look on course for an easy win over the Warriors, while the Dolphins have a slightly tougher task to beat the Imperial Lions and the match between the Cape Cobras and the Titans is set for a thrilling conclusion going into the final day of the opening round of 4-Day Domestic Series matches.

The Knights are just three wickets away from victory against the Warriors in Bloemfontein, with the visitors still needing 193 runs to win. Their best hope is opener Matthew Breetzke, who is still at the crease with a defiant 71 not out.

The Knights, leading by 272 runs on first innings, ran into trouble against paceman Mthiwekhaya Nabe (3-21) on Wednesday morning and eventually declared their second innings on 93 for eight. First-innings centurion Jacques Snyman again top-scored, with 33.

The Warriors, chasing an unlikely 366 for victory, closed on 173 for seven, with fast bowler Migael Pretorius leading the Knights charge with three for 25 in 14 overs.

At Newlands, the Titans were set 316 to beat the Cobras and it is a target they just might reach as they reached stumps on 195 for three, just 121 runs away.

Theunis de Bruyn is their key man, looking in great touch on his way to 63 not out. The Titans were given a great start to their daunting chase as openers Dean Elgar (58) and Aiden Markram (48) put on 105 in positive fashion.

The Titans had earlier bowled the Cobras out for 201, with Kyle Verreynne scoring a crucial 85, while spinner Tabraiz Shamsi claimed four for 79.

In Durban, the Dolphins rode the record second-wicket stand of 337 between Sarel Erwee and Keegan Petersen to take control of their match against the Lions, declaring on 458 for three for a first-innings lead of exactly 200.

Erwee showed tremendous focus and judgement in scoring 199, before he drove Dwaine Pretorius to Temba Bavuma at short-cover, finishing agonisingly short of a maiden franchise double-century. Petersen was a superb foil at the other end, scoring a brilliantly compiled 173 as he and opener Erwee broke the record for the highest partnership for any wicket at Kingsmead.

Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj is the obvious main threat for the Lions on the last day and he has already taken three for 37 as the visitors struggled to 75 for three at stumps.

Stats guru Andrew Samson, AKA The Oracle, and Ken Borland discuss the thrilling opening round of the Four-Day Franchise Series that marked the return of professional cricket in South Africa.

With the help of esteemed guest, Firdose Moonda, the CricInfo correspondent, we look at the significant records that were set … and the controversies.

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No spectators are going to be allowed at Randpark Golf Club when the prestigious Joburg Open is held there from November 19-22, but there will be plenty of entertainment for golf fans at the club both before and after that with the installation of the new InRange ball-tracking facility at their driving range.

InRange is a system designed by engineers in Stellenbosch who were global leaders in the field of tracking technology for radio telescopes and radar, who turned their attention to tracking the flight of golf balls. The result is not only a package that is used by leading professionals, golf clubs and coaches, but which also has tremendous entertainment value.

Golfers previously going through the motions on the driving range can now track each and every shot and can play under added pressure in the system’s game mode that allows multiple players to compete against each other in contests such as Longest Drive or Bullseye. With four buckets of balls costing less than R400 for a foursome, this sounds like great fun for a group of golfing mates.

The technology is also available on an app, allowing individuals to enjoy the experience at a cheaper cost.

But for the weekend of November 19-22, Randpark will become a place of national importance and closed to the public as the European Tour and their top international golfers arrive to participate in the Joburg Open. As Randpark GC chief executive Francois Swart explained, they simply cannot risk any Covid transmission occurring, especially with South Africa hosting the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek and then the South African Open at Sun City on the following weekends.

“It’s very important that the safety protocols are adhered to and we have to manage the bubbles and ensure the safety of the players, not just for this tournament but for the next two as well. I think not having spectators is the better call and unfortunately not even our members will be allowed at the club. It’s the right call because it’s a big investment.

“The players are the ones who have the most risk and if any of them get exposed then they’re out for the rest of the tournaments as well. Not having spectators is normal practice at this time on the European Tour and they have had a lot of input because they have staged big tournaments already this year. They’ve given us valuable insights and I have all the confidence in the world that the Joburg Open will go off beautifully,” Swart told The Citizen.