URC latest: Bulls bolstered by returning Springboks
The Bulls are set to host a hungry Connacht team at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening and have named their team.
The Bulls are set to host a hungry Connacht team in the URC at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening and have named their team.
The hosts have made six changes to the side that narrowly emerged victorious last weekend against Edinburgh.
Bulls get Bok flyers back
Bulls fans will be treated by the return of in-form Springboks, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Sbu Nkosi.
Arendse and Moodie, both of whom quickly became fan favourites at Loftus with their electric pace and insane steps, will be high on confidence after both made their Springbok debuts in the last few weeks, scoring three tries collectively.
Meanwhile, Nkosi, who is no stranger to the Green and Gold but has only made one appearance for the Bulls thus far, will also be looking to win over the Loftus faithful.
Steady centres
Cornal Hendricks will partner David Kriel in the midfield, while Johan Goosen gets his first start in the ten jersey since returning from a long-term injury that kept him out of the game for eleven months. Livewire halfback Zac Burger retains his spot at scrumhalf.
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The loose-trio gets a little shuffle as Marco van Staden starts at seven with Ruan Vermaak dropping out for this game and joining the Vodacom Bulls XV that face the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Captain Marcell Coetzee continues doing what he does best at six with returning Springbok, Elrigh Louw, remaining in his ‘happy-place’ with the number eight on his back. Ruan Nortje and Walt Steenkamp have formed a formidable pairing in the engine room over the last season, and will continue their dominance for this game.
Francois Klopper earns a well-deserved start at tighthead, as Mornay Smith drops to the bench, with Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp at hooker and loosehead respectively.
Director of Rugby Jake White is looking forward to the return of the Bulls-Boks, “It’s always nice having Springboks come back, especially when they are looking as good as Canan and Kurt-Lee. Sbu didn’t get a run out for the Boks but his confidence will still be high having been part of the group. I have no doubt that he is raring to go, and this is his chance.”
“Connacht is a dangerous team. We saw that in the last competition when they gave us a good smack in Galway. A lot has changed since then, and we know what we have to do this weekend.”
The game kicks off at 18:30, on Friday 30 September.
Bulls team vs Connacht
Starters:
15 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 14 Canan Moodie; 13 Cornal Hendricks; 12 David Kriel; 11 Sbu Nkosi; 10 Johan Goosen; 9 Zak Burger; 8 Elrigh Louw; 7 Marco van Staden; 6 Marcel Coetzee; 5 Ruan Nortje; 4 Walt Steenkamp; 3 Francois Klopper; 2 Johan Grobbelaar; 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Substitutes:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels; 17 Simphiwe Matanzima; 18 Mornay Smith; 19 Janko Swanepoel; 20 Reinhardt Ludwig; 21 Embrose Papier; 22 Chris Smith; 23 Lionel Mapoe
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