PREVIEW: The Bulls opted to bring their most experienced heavy hitters back to set the tone early against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Moving into the starting XV for the United Rugby Championship derby are Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, and Wilco Louw with Alulutho Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Mornay Smith, who all started against the Sharks two weeks ago, dropping to the replacements bench to provide second-half impact.
In the loose forwards, there is a strategic rotation at No.8 where form man Jeandre Rudolph earns a start, moving up from the bench. Captain Marcell Coetzee and the powerhouse Elrigh Louw remain settled in their starting roles.
The Bulls have, however, opted for total continuity in the backline.
There are no changes to the starting back seven.
The silky halfback pairing of Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard remains intact, while the dangerous back three of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, and David Kriel will once again lead the attack.
Significantly, Cobus Wiese and Marco van Staden, poised to make his 100th first class appearance for the Bulls, provide grunt among the forwards on the bench.
Paul de Wet and Willie le Roux are retained as the specialist backline cover to provide cool heads in the closing stages.
- Meanwhile, the Stormers welcome back three players with over 100 caps for the team.
Centurions Neethling Fouché, Deon Fourie and Damian Willemse are all in the starting line-up, along with Ruhan Nel who takes over the captaincy for the North-South clash.
Nel will line up in the midfield alongside Willemse, with Suleiman Hartzenberg on the right wing in the other change to the starting backline.
Scrumhalf Imad Khan, centre Jonathan Roche and utility back Wandisile Simelane are on the replacements bench.
In the front row Fouché will link up with fellow Springboks André-Hugo Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu, with JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo and Sazi Sandi set to make an impact in the second half.
The second row is unchanged, while in the loose trio Marcel Theunissen comes in for the injured Evan Roos and joins Fourie and Ben-Jason Dixon, with both Paul de Villiers and Hacjivah Dayimani set to be unleashed from the replacements bench.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that the return of the likes of Nel, Fourie, Willemse and Fouché is a big boost ahead of a crucial game.
“It is fantastic to have these experienced players back in the mix this week,” Dobson said.
“They have all played in many big games like this, and their presence will lift those around them as well.
“We are also really excited about the impact the players on the replacements bench will make.
“We know that it will take a huge effort from all 23 to get the result we need this weekend,” he said.
Teams
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Willie le Roux.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Paul de Villiers, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Saturday, March 14
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 14.00 (12.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
