Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White has made several changes to his match-day squad for their game against the Cheetahs at Loftus on Saturday.
White has been forced to revamped his backline due to injuries. Kurt-Lee Arendse and David Kriel switch to fullback and right wing, respectively, with Marco Jansen van Vuren earning his first start on the left wing.
There is a new halfback pairing as Morne Steyn returns to flyhalf with Embrose Papier back on his inside channel at scrumhalf.
Among the forwards, Sintu Manjezi will start his first match after several appearances off the bench while the front row has two changes at prop, with Marcel van der Merwe and Gerhard Steenekamp getting a start.
On the bench, Trevor Nyakane and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who is on debut, will provide prop cover and Ruan Nortje serves as backup lock.
Marnus Potgieter is also set for his competition and team debut, as he rounds out the backline replacements alongside Ivan van Zyl and Chris Smith.
Commenting on the changes to his team, White said: ‘The Cheetahs are the only team to have beaten us in the last round, so we are truly looking forward to this one. I’m also excited about the changes we have made to our team, and I’m keen to see our new combinations.’
Vodacom Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marnus Potgieter.
Photo: Gallo Images
