Jake White has reinforced the Vodacom Bulls starting lineup for the top-of-the-table clash in the Vodacom URC against Leinster at the RDS Arena on Friday night.
The second-placed Bulls are back in Dublin to face leaders Leinster for the first time since their 2021-22 meeting in the semi-finals of the inaugural URC, which White’s charges won 27-26.
The visitors will have a fresh centre pair as David Kriel returns at inside centre, with Canan Moodie retained at No 13.
Scrumhalf Embrose Papier and flyhalf Johan Goosen form the halfback combination, with Zak Burger and Chris Smith rotating to the bench.
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Kurt-Lee Arendse shifts to the right wing in the absence of Sebastian de Klerk, who has been ruled out with a head knock, with Devon Williams promoted to the run-on XV.
There are just two changes to the pack, as blindside flanker Elrigh Louw comes in for Mpilo Gumede and Akker van der Merwe replaces Jan-Hendrik Wessels at hooker.
Gumede, Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Morne Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig and Harold Vorster are set to make an impact off the wood.
Bulls – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (co-capt), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (co-capt), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Morne Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.
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