With all the mixing and matching in the Springbok team this year, one impressive youngster who hasn’t earned a Test cap as yet is powerful Blue Bulls No 8 Mpilo Gumede.
The former Sharks loose forward was a surprise call-up to a national alignment camp in April, and was also part of the Bok training squad ahead of the Wales Test in London.
But having caught the eye for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup, Gumede was largely unused at franchise level in the closing stages of the Pretoria side’s charge to the URC final.
Another top-class No 8, Cameron Hanekom, is the first choice at the Bulls, and Gumede has had to wait for the Currie Cup to remind South African fans of his tremendous talent.
He has scored five tries already and produced a number of outstanding performances, and after playing off the bench in last week’s 40-24 triumph over the Pumas, Gumede was reinstated in the starting line-up yesterday for today’s showdown with Griquas at Loftus Versfeld (7.05pm start).
The 23-year-old was again left out of the latest Rugby Championship squad for the two Bok Tests against the All Blacks, but could come back into the mix for the upcoming games against Argentina.
“Our guys are quite good (at dealing with Bok prospects). There is a plan that we must stick to going into the game, and the rest will take care of itself,” Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo said yesterday.
“All he needs to do is to make sure that he is playing well, adding good value to the team. If you look too far ahead, you might trip and fall in the current moment.
“I know he’s got those aspirations, and he also understands how important a performance is from him tomorrow.
“He’s going to be used a bit differently tomorrow. We know what he can do, and have asked him to have massive contributions and be as busy as he can. We want him to take his game to the next step, so (we’ll see) a lot of energy, I hope.”
Gumede forms an interesting loose trio with another big ball carrier in Mihlali Mosi and skilful captain Nizaam Carr, while regular blindsider Cyle Brink will be at lock alongside Jannes Kirsten.
There are a few new faces in the backline as well, with Henry Immelman, Cornel Smit and Jaco van der Walt getting starts.
The Bulls may be unbeaten after seven matches, but will be wary of underestimating a Griquas side that has won at Loftus in previous Currie Cups.
“There are a few things that we’ve seen with Griquas, so we are looking for a massive point of entry with these selections,” Nomlomo said.
“We want to play with five loosies in the back five, and we are able to do that this weekend – there’s something we want to see, especially looking towards the back end of the competition.
WHAT A TEAM 😍
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) August 22, 2024
YOUR team taking on @GriquasRugby TOMORROW NIGHT at LOFTUS 🏆🏆
🎟️TICKETS HERE: https://t.co/cd7EwLQchv pic.twitter.com/TrfgiAO7U3
“We would like to play for 80 minutes. Those lapses in concentration have to become less and less at the back end of the competition. We’ve worked on a couple of things, and one of those things is the accuracy – at the set piece, breakdown, kicking game, defence, attack.
“The big message has been around accuracy and tidying up, where we may have been sloppy in the past.
“They’ve got nothing to lose, and I foresee them (Griquas) throwing the kitchen sink at it.
“They might look to hold onto the nut (ball) a lot more, just try and ask good questions. I don’t foresee them kicking a lot, so they will try to force us to make as many tackles as possible.”
Bulls Team
15 Devon Williams 14 Henry Immelman 13 Cornel Smit 12 Chris Barend Smit 11 Stravino Jacobs 10 Jaco van der Walt 9 Keagan Johannes 8 Mpilo Gumede 7 Mihlali Mosi 6 Nizaam Carr (captain) 5 Jannes Kirsten 4 Cyle Brink 3 Mornay Smith 2 Joe van Zyl 1 Tielman Nieuwoudt.
Bench: 16 Juann Else 17 Dylan Smith 18 Khutha Mchunu 19 Sintu Manjezi 20 Merwe Olivier 21 Bernard van der Linde 22 Boeta Chamberlain 23 Katlego Letebele.