England lock Charlie Ewels will make his Vodacom Bulls debut as one of three lineup changes by Jake White to face the Lions in the Currie Cup in Pretoria on Saturday.
He steps in for Janko Swanepoel in the second row while flanker WJ Steenkamp replaces Nizaam Carr, who sits out this week’s clash at Loftus Versfeld due to HIA recovery protocols. Blindside flanker Reinhardt Ludwig will lead the team.
With 30 Test caps to his name and over 100 appearances for Bath, Ewels will add plenty of experience to the Bulls pack. He has also captained Bath under previous director of rugby Stuart Hooper and was an England regular in the latter stages of Eddie Jones’ tenure.
The 27-year-old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during England’s tour of Australia last June and is now looking to regain his fitness with White’s charges in the Republic.
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On Ewels’ selection and what he expects of him, director of rugby White said: “I can’t wait – he is like a young kid in a toy shop or candy store. The guy really wants to play, hasn’t played rugby for a long time and he knows this is an opportunity to show [England coach] Steve Borthwick that he’s ready to play in the World Cup.
“He knows this is an opportunity he has to use, and often you get a guy who comes into a squad and he is just happy to go through the motions – he’s completely different. He really wants to make an impression, and add value. He’s happy to share whatever he’s learnt at England and Bath, and whatever he’s learnt as a player.
“It’s been fantastic to have that kind of personality. I can’t remember any international player playing for the Bulls, so this is the first time I’ve experienced having a fully fledged international playing at the Bulls. And I can tell you that he’s definitely added much more than just him as a player.”
The Bulls made a statement in round 6 of the Currie Cup when they secured a narrow victory over the Sharks in Durban, where winger Sibongile Novuka scored three tries, while the Lions were edged by Griquas in Johannesburg.
Bulls – 15 Juan Mostert, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10. Morne Steyn (c), 9 Zak Burger, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Subs: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Merwe Olivier, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cornal Hendricks, 23 Kabelo Mokoena.
Photo: EPA/Andy Rain