Head coach Phiwe Nomlomo has rejigged the Vodacom Bulls lineup for a 2024 Currie Cup rematch against DHL Western Province in Pretoria on Saturday.
Tighthead prop Khutha Mchunu comes in for Francois Klopper, who has been named among the replacements for the Loftus Versfeld clash.
In the second row, the lock combination sees Junior Springbok star JF van Heerden pair with Cobus Wiese, and Sintu Manjezi and Jannes Kirsten providing cover from the bench. The back row remains unchanged with captain Nizaam Carr, blindside flanker Merwe Olivier and No 8 Mpilo Gumede.
At the back, flyhalf Jaco van der Walt and scrumhalf Zak Burger will run out as the halfback pairing. Sergeal Petersen starts at right wing for the injured Henry Immelman while Boeta Chamberlain replaces Devon Williams at fullback.
Replacements Juann Else, Jacques van Rooyen, Keagan Johannes, Lionel Mapoe and Nama Xaba complete the matchday 23. Nomlomo looks forward to seeing some of the rotated players run out.
TEAM: Junior Bok to debut for WP in derby
“We have decided to stick with the six-two split because there is a couple of things we have seen that we want to work on and maybe a point of entry for us,” he said.
“We have asked our forwards to go deep for us [on Saturday]. We have a really good scrum at the moment and equally, our maul has been unbelievable so that is what we want to carry on and stamp our mark in the game.”
The Bulls opened their campaign with three tries in a narrow win against WP in a north-south derby at a wet Cape Town Stadium three weeks ago.
On the challenge posed by WP, Nomlomo adds, “They know what we have and maybe they would be surprised by the changes we have made but nothing more than that, so I expect a proper derby, we all know how it has been in the past and I do not expect anything different this time around.”
“Some of our changes are injury-enforced and others are rotational, this is where we find ourselves; where some guys are starting to pick up niggles and some picking up serious injuries along the way as well, which is not ideal.
“Equally, we are happy to give guys opportunities. JF returns from the SA U20s so we are looking forward to seeing him on the park.”
Bulls – 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Merwe Olivier, 6 Nizaam Carr (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Juann Else, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Sintu Manjezi, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Nama Xaba.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
