Different, but the same, but still different - Mapoe

THE more things change, the more they stay the same for new Bulls centre Lionel Mapoe.

While the long-serving Golden Lions centre has now made Loftus Versfeld his home after a stint in France, he will still stick to his trademark ‘rooster’ celebration if he scores a try in Friday’s Currie Cup clash against the Sharks in Durban (7pm kick-off). But there is a new, blond beard … “Yes, when I score a try, you will see the celebration again. I’m actually looking forward to it, but I’m not in a hurry – I’m not in a rush,” the 33-yearold chuckled during an online press conference from Pretoria yesterday.

“Somehow, I have to fit in with the youngsters, you know. So I thought, as I am spicing it (the beard) up a little bit, I’m only getting younger.”

Mapoe had a season on loan from the Lions with the Bulls in 2013, but now in 2021 on Jake White’s watch, he feels that the environment has totally changed.

There is also serious competition for midfield spots, with Stedman Gans now having return from the Blitzboks at the Tokyo Olympics, while his former Lions teammate Harold Vorster and Cornal Hendricks can play in both centre positions as well.

“It’s different, I must say. It’s different, compared to my first year here a couple of years ago. A lot has changed and coming back here, it certainly does feel like home. You can speak to the youngsters, they can speak to you and there are no egos in the camp. The guys understand each other, and it’s amazing,” Mapoe said.

“Stedman came back a day or two ago, and it was his first session today. He is a very good youngster, and I’ve seen him play at the Bulls – a very good player. It’s going to be good going forward and working with him.

“The competition is healthy. The guys know what to do, and we help each other where we can, as we know it’s going to be a collective effort from the whole squad, going into the next competition.”

The Bulls are sitting on top of the Currie Cup log following their 34-13 victory over Western Province at Newlands last week, while the Sharks are smarting from a 37-27 loss to Griquas in Kimberley.