Springboks Johan Goosen and Nizaam Carr return for the Vodacom Bulls as Edgar Marutlulle named a settled match-day 23 to face the Griffons on Friday.
Head coach Marutlulle has tweaked the team from the lineup that went down to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in the Currie Cup last week.
Goosen, who has been sidelined with a shoulder problem since early February, replaces flyhalf Chris Barend Smit in the starting XV, with the latter named among the replacements.
The versatile Carr will slot into the back row at blindside flanker alongside No 8 Muller Uys and opensider Phumzile Maqondwana, who is promoted to the run-on team.
Bok prop Lizo Gqoboka retains the captaincy, with lock JP Alberts in line to make his Currie Cup debut off the bench, as Marutlulle hopes selection consistency for the Bulls can help snap a three-game losing run in the competition.
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“Johan Goosen coming back from injury, and him being available allows us to be able to give him sufficient game time to get him up to speed,” Marutlulle said.
“We all know he is a world-class player, travelled the world, and represented the Springboks … we’re excited to have him for the Currie Cup and how much impact he can have in the game.
“We all know Nizaam Carr and that he is able to cover 6, 7 and 8, and in trying to pick a balanced loose trio we’ve gone with Phumzile, who did well coming off the bench and is really dynamic.
“It’s probably the first time in the campaign that we’ve been able to put out an almost similar team together for two weeks in a row.
“This is the least changes we’ve made in the Currie Cup, so we’re hoping that cohesion and relationships that are starting to form will build on last week’s performance.”
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Bulls – 15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Quewin Nortje, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (c).
Subs: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Joe van Zyl, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 JP Alberts, 20 Mihhali Mosi, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Chris Smit, 23 Adriaan Joubert.
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter