Visser, Odendaal in for injured players, Greyling back in starting team
Jurgen Visser, who replaced the injured Jan Serfontein in the Bulls' squad on tour, will start on Friday at fullback, while Burger Odendaal will play in Serfontein's place at centre.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named Jurgen Visser at fullback in his team to play the Brumbies at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Friday.
Visser will replace Jesse Kriel who has been named on the bench for this match, the first of two on Australian soil for the Bulls in the Super Rugby competition. He joined the squad on Monday in place of injured Jan Serfontein and with Kriel recovering from a knee contusion, Ludeke opted for the 30 times capped fullback to start.
This will be a first start at fullback for Visser since the opening week in February against the Stormers.
Serfontein has been replaced by Burger Odendaal in the midfield. In the pack, there is a return for Adriaan Strauss, who was rested last weekend, with Callie Visagie moving to the bench, as well as a first start on tour for Grant Hattingh, who replaces Victor Matfield at lock. Matfield is rested according to the SARU agreement.
Dean Greyling rotates with Trevor Nyakane at loose head and Arno Botha swops places with Jacques du Plessis at the side of the scrum in the other change to the pack.
“We are well aware of the threat the Brumbies pose in many positions, so realise that we will have to play to our full potential if we want to succeed in Canberra,” Ludeke said.
“The changes in the team are all within the squad set-up. Jurgen has played for us many times and will slot in without ease, while Burger showed his worth earlier in the season. We know that we need log points if we want this season to still mean something to us and the team will be going out there determined to achieve what we set out at the beginning of the season.”
The team (with number of Super rugby caps) is: Jurgen Visser (30), Francois Hougaard (85), JJ Engelbrecht (62), Burger Odendaal (7), Bjorn Basson (84), Handré Pollard (24), Rudy Paige (18), Pierre Spies (116, c), Arno Botha (30), Deon Stegmann (91), Grant Hattingh (45), Flip van der Merwe (78), Marcel van der Merwe (30), Adriaan Strauss (116), Dean Greyling (65). Replacements: Callie Visagie (48), Trevor Nyakane (55), Werner Kruger (111), Jacques du Plessis (28), Lappies Labuschagne (37), Jacques Louis Potgieter (59), Travis Ismaiel (3), Jesse Kriel (14).
