Kurt-Lee Arendse has returned to form an all-Springbok set of outside backs for the Vodacom Bulls in the derby against the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday.
Arendse, who missed the Vodacom URC match against Connacht due to a family bereavement, has been brought straight back into the starting lineup for Saturday afternoon’s match at Loftus Versfeld.
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Canan Moodie and Willie le Roux join Arendse to form a World Cup-winning back three, with David Kriel and Stedman Gans continuing their successful midfield partnership.
A new halfback pair sees flyhalf Johan Goosen and scrumhalf Embrose Papier rotate into the lineup, as Jaco van der Walt and Zak Burger drop to the bench.
Springbok flank Elrigh Louw takes over the captaincy in the absence of the injured Ruan Nortje and suspended Marcell Coetzee, while Cameron Hanekom is recalled to start at No 8.
A youthful second-row pair sees Reinhardt Ludwig switch to No 5 to replace Nortje, with 24-year-old Janko Swanepoel called up from the bench.
Bulls – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Janko Swanepoel, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.
Photo: Twitter: @BlueBullsRugby