The Bulls will go into their United Rugby Championship season-opening match against the Lions with a strong match-day squad which includes three debutants in the starting XV.

New No8, Mihlali Mosi, the only new face in the forwards pack, will make his Bulls and URC debut when he scrums down alongside captain Marcell Coetzee and Ruan Vermaak to complete the starting loose trio.

Springbok winger, S’bu Nkosi, and fullback, Wandisile Simelane, will also don the Bulls’ blue jumper for the first time.

Off the bench, Marco van Staden will make his much-anticipated return for the Bulls, making his first appearance in the URC alongside tighthead prop cover, Francois Klopper. The latter is also a newcomer, who played for Tuks in the Varsity Cup last season.

All the hard work the Bulls have put in over their six-week pre-season period will be put to the test against a strong and determined Lions side in their own back yard.

“We have had a great six weeks of pre-season training where we have worked on areas we felt we needed to improve on from last season. This has also been a great opportunity for our new recruits to acclimatise in their new environment,” said Bulls director of rugby, Jake White.

White went on to say a lot of hard work went into the past few weeks, and they are pleased with where the team are ahead of the start of the season.

“We now have a tough encounter against a strong Emirates Lions team that will want to begin their season campaign on a positive note. Even though we expect a slow start, given that it is the first game of the season, we are looking forward to the lads giving their all to set the tone for the rest of the season,” White concluded.

The match will kick-off at 16:05 on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulls team to face the Emirates Lions on Saturday is:

 Team: Wandisile Simelane (Betway Centurion), Cornal Hendricks (Northam Rhinos), Lionel Mapoe (Pretoria), David Kriel (Tuine), S’bu Nkosi (Harlequin), Chris Smith (Harlequins), Embrose Papier (Tuks); Mihlali Mosi (Pretoria), Ruan Vermaak (Harlequins), Marcell Coetzee (CAPT, ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion), Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion), Johan Grobbelaar (Tuks) and Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle). Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Pretoria), Dylan Smith (Tuine), Francois Klopper (Tuks), Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria), Marco van Staden (ABE Midas Naka Bulle); Zak Burger (Tuine), Morné Steyn (Tuine) and Stedman Gans (Northam Rhinos).

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