Willie makes Bulls debut

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Willie le Roux will run out at fullback on debut for the Vodacom Bulls alongside two other recalled Springboks for the clash against Connacht on Saturday.

World Cup winners Le Roux, flank Marco van Staden and finisher Canan Moodie have all been named in the matchday-23 for the Vodacom URC match at Loftus Versfeld (5pm kickoff).

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Jake White has made several changes to the team that went down 31-23 against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital last week – six rotational changes to the starting XV, and two personnel changes on the bench.

David Kriel and Stedman Gans line up in the midfield, Le Roux marshals a back three that is bookended by wingers Sergeal Petersen and Sebastian de Klerk, and Zak Burger and Jaco van der Walt combine at halfback.

In the tight five, hooker Akker van der Merwe is promoted to start between props Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, powered by the lock pairing of Reinhardt Ludwig and Ruan Nortje, who takes over the captaincy from suspended flanker Marcell Coetzee.

Cam Hanekom makes way for Van Staden at openside in a rejigged back row that features Elrigh Louw on the blindside and veteran link man Nizaam Carr starting at No 8, and Moodie is the star impact player on a 5-3 bench.

Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

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