White selects another teenager for Lions clash
After fielding a teenager on the flank against the Stormers last week, Jake White is giving another 19-year-old a chance on the senior stage this week when young winger Canan Moodie will run out against the Lions at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
Canan Moodie will be the latest Bulls player to make his United Rugby Championship debut when the side takes on cross-Jukskei rivals, Lions, in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The 19-year-old, who was vice-captain of the Bulls Under-20 side last year, will be earn a starting berth on the wing at Emirates Airline Park and will be the only uncapped player in the starting XV.
Moodie will be surrounded by a wealth of experience in the Bulls backline which will see veteran Springbok flyhalf, Morné Steyn, returning to the starting team alongside scrumhalf Embrose Papier, while the midfield pairing will consist of Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe. Kurt-Lee Arendse will start at fullback this weekend with Madosh Tambwe at left wing.
Marcell Coetzee will also be back to lead the side after coming off the bench in last weekend’s match against Stormers.
The front row will see a change with the props as Simphiwe Matanzima dons the number one jersey and Jacques van Rooyen starts at tighthead prop, with Johan Grobbelaar retaining the number two jumper.
“The Emirates Lions showed a good fight in their match against the Sharks last weekend. We have no doubts that they will want to build from that and go one better in search of a win in their own back yard this weekend,” said Bulls director of rugby, Jake White.
White warned that it is always a tough, physical battle against the Lions.
“They are a well-coached side that will throw everything at us. We are looking forward to another exciting URC encounter,” he remarked.
The match between the Lions and Bulls will kick-off at 15:00.
The Bulls team to take on the Lions is: 15. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Betway Centurion), 14. Canan Moodie (Pretoria), 13. Lionel Mapoe (Pretoria), 12. Harold Vorster (Northam), 11. Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria), 10. Morné Steyn (Tuine), 9. Embrose Papier (FNB Tuks); 8. Elrigh Louw (FNB Tuks), 7. Arno Botha (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), 6. Marcell Coetzee (Capt, ABE Midas Naka Bulle), 5. Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), 4. Walt Steenkamp (Tuine), 3. Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine), 2. Johan Grobbelaar (FNB Tuks)and 1. Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle). Replacements: 16. Bismarck du Plessis (Betway Centurion), 17. Lizo Gqoboka (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), 18. Robert Hunt (Harlequins), 19. Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria), 20. Muller Uys (FNB Tuks); 21. Zak Burger (Tuine), 22. Chris Smith (Harlequins) and 23. David Kriel (Betway Centurion).
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