Bulls select new loose trio and captain after injuries to Vermeulen and Louw
Jake White had to pick a new loose trio, while his team will also run on the field with a new captain in the crucial Rainbow Cup match against the Sharks in Durban.
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White continues to test combinations and positions, with Ruan Nortje shifting to blindside flank opening up space for lock Janko Swanepoel to start in the engine room against the Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday.
Nortje’s move to the side of the scrum is a result of the injury to Elrigh Louw, while Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee takes over the captaincy and no.8 jumper from the injured Duane Vermeulen, with Marco van Staden covering openside flank against their Durban based opposition.
The rest of the starting line-up remains unchanged.
Springbok Nizaam Carr and Junior Springbok Muller Uys have received call ups to take the places of Swanepoel and Van Staden on the bench respectively.
The trip to Durban marks the end of the PRO14 Rainbow
Cup SA regular season, with the Bulls going into the game in pole position to contest the North vs South final. The Bulls will be looking to go all out in retaining the top spot, as the Pretoria franchise shifts a gear going into a knockout rugby mindset.
“We have approached this match as if it were a semi-final. Nothing less than a win is good enough. The boys need no further motivation and despite a few injuries, come Saturday we will be focused and determined to execute our plan,” said White.
Kick-off is scheduled for 18:15.
Bulls vs Sharks: 15. David Kriel, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Marcell Coetzee (C), 7. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Janko Swanepoel, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar and 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Muller Uys, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Clinton Swart and 23. Gio Aplon. Stand by players: 24. Robert Hunt, 25. Jan Uys, 26. Dawid Kellerman and 27. Richard Kriel.
Match officials: Referee: AJ Jacobs, AR1: Jaco Peyper, AR2: Griffin Colby, TMO: Stuart Berry
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