The Vodacom Bulls have named a formidable team to duel Ulster in the round 16 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Belfast on Saturday night.
Springboks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie return, the former slotting in at fullback while the latter will line up at right wing at Kingspan Stadium in a strong lineup selected by Bulls director of rugby Jake White.
Flyhalf Chris Smith will partner scrumhalf Zak Burger at halfback, while Harold Vorster and Cornal Hendricks are set to combine midfield, with David Kriel completing the back three at left wing.
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Ruan Nortje will lead the team which sees Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar and Mornay Smith pack down in the front row, with Ruan Vermaak joining his skipper behind them. The back row will have Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink and Elrigh Louw adding power to the forwards pack.
An experienced and influential impact squad features the likes of Bismarck Du Plessis, Embrose Papier and Morne Steyn; all lining up alongside bright young stars in Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel and WJ Steenkamp.
Saturday’s clash in Belfast will be the second time the teams meet, with Ulster beaten by 18 points when they travelled to Pretoria to play the Bulls for the first time. However, the only sides that have beaten Ulster at home this season are fellow Irish provinces Munster and Leinster. Away from home, the Bulls have won three from eight so far in the URC this season.
Last year’s losing finalists, the Bulls are looking to secure a place in the play-offs from sixth spot on the table with three rounds remaining, while Ulster cut the gap on the second-placed DHL Stormers to just five points prior to the two-week hiatus in the competition.
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Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter