Ruan Nortje will lead a Vodacom Bulls lineup that includes the return of Springbok world champions Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie against the Lions on Saturday.
The Pretoria outfit will travel down the N1 highway to Ellis Park for what promises to be an enthralling second instalment of the Jukskei derby, after the Bulls edged the Lions at Loftus Versfeld in round 9 of the Vodacom URC two weeks ago.
The Bulls will have a front row comprising props Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith alongside Johan Grobbelaar. Behind them, Nortje and fellow lock Reinhardt Ludwig man the second row.
Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom comprise the loose trio.
In the backline, scrumhalf Embrose Papier pairs with flyhalf Jaco van der Walt. Moodie and Arendse will fly on the wings outside the midfield duo of David Kriel and Stedman Gans.
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Fresh off signing a permanent contract with The Herd, Devon Williams gets a run at fullback.
Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Kloppers, Janko Swanepoel, Marcell Coetzee, Keagan Johannes, Johan Goosen and Mpilo Gumede will provide support off the bench.
Director of rugby Jake White believes the Bulls are playing for more than just solidifying their chances of playoffs but also building momentum for the latter stages of the competitions.
“We are going to have to play well, almost our best rugby like it’s Test rugby. The next two weekends are like trial runs for the big knockout games that are coming,” he said.
“We have made one or two tweaks with our changes, not for any other reason but to continue learning who can play with whom because we are never going to have the same 23.”
The team will be sporting their school or club colours in a unique start to the second half of the URC this weekend, in the first of two special Origin Rounds where the players’ rugby roots will be remembered and celebrated.
Bulls – 15 Devon Williams (Paarl Boys’ High), 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Paulus Joubert High), 13 Stedman Gans (Laerskool Vredenburg), 12 David Kriel (Eikestad Primary), 11 Canan Moodie (Boland Landbou Laerskool George Suid), 10 Jaco van der Walt (Laerskool Randfontein), 9 Embrose Papier (Hoerskool Gaasfontein), 8 Cameron Hanekom (Paarl Boys’ High), 7 Elrigh Louw (Transvalia High), 6 Marco van Staden (Hoërskool Bekker), 5 Ruan Nortje (c, Hoerskool Wonderboom), 4 Reinhardt Ludwig (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool), 3 Mornay Smith (Hoerskool Eldoraigne), 2 Johan Grobbelaar (Paarl Gymnasium), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp (Laerskool Mooirivier).
Subs: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima (Queens College), 17 Akker van der Merwe (Laerskool George Suid), 18 Francois Kloppers (Winterton Primary School), 19 Janko Swanepoel (Gene Louw Primary School), 20 Marcell Coetzee (Suid-Natal Primary), 21 Keagan Johannes (Avondale Primary), 22 Johan Goosen (Grey College), 23 Mpilo Gumede (Durban High).
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix