Jake to blood new Bulls in Namibia

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Reinhardt Ludwig will captain a 25-man Vodacom Bulls squad to Namibia where they will take on the Welwitschias, as the Pretoria outfit ramps up preparations for next season.

Exciting debuts are on the cards for Jake White’s new recruits, with Deon Slabbert, Mpilo Gumede, Jaco van der Walt and Sergeal Petersen all set to run out for the Bulls for the first time since arriving at Loftus Versfeld.

The outing will also be a welcomed return for ‘Rocket Man’ Stravino Jacobs, who has recovered from his season-ending injury suffered earlier in the year.

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White has assembled a front row that features Dylan Smith (loosehead), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (hooker) and Robert Hunt (tighthead) with a lock combination of Slabbert and Ludwig. Blindside flanker WJ Steenkamp, opensider Mihlali Mosi and No 8 Gumede make up the loose trio.

Zak Burger pairs with Van der Walt at halfback, while wingers Jacobs and Sibongile Novuka flank the midfield of Chris Barend Smit and Cornal Hendricks. Petersen starts at fullback.

The clash will take place on Saturday at the WHS Vegkop Stadium in the Namibian capital.

Bulls – 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Simphiwe Matanzima, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Hanekom, 23 Juan Mostert, 24 Eugene Hare, 25 Kabelo Mokoena

Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter

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