Blue Bulls make balanced changes ahead of Currie Cup game against Griffons
Although a few key players will be rested for Friday night's Currie Cup match against the Griffons, Jake White has still selected a very strong team to get the Blue Bulls over this important hurdle on their way to a possible semi-final berth.
The Blue Bulls prepare to welcome the Griffons with a rotated side ahead of round 13 clash in the 2023 Currie Cup campaign. The herd will welcome the Welkom based team to Loftus Versfeld on Friday, with kick-off set for 17:00.
At the front, Jan-Hendrik Wessels comes in for Johan Grobbelaar with Francois Klopper lining up alongside him, swapping places with Mornay Smith who slots into the impact squad. In the second row, the lock combination sees Ruan Vermaak pair up with Janko Swanepoel who comes into the fold in place of Ruan Nortje. The back row has captain, Marcell Coetzee (blindside flanker) alongside Cyle Brink (openside flanker) and eight-man, Nizaam Carr.
At the back: Embrose Papier will have a new partner at halfback as Chris Smith starts at fly-half with Johan Goosen moving to full-back. Goosen’s switch sees David Kriel move to left wing this week, where he will pair up with Cornal Hendricks on the right. Chris Barend Smit will start at inside centre replacing Harold Vorster with Stedman Gans retaining his spot at outside centre.
The impact squad has Simphiwe Matanzima, Joe van Zyl, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Mihlali Mosi, Keagan Johannes, Sibongile Novuka and Wandisile Simelane who returns from a hamstring niggle.
BULLS vs GRIFFONS STARTING XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp (Naka Bulle), 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Pretoria), 3. Francois Klopper (Tuine), 4. Ruan Vermaak (Naka Bulle), 5. Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria), 6. Marcell Coetzee (c) (Naka Bulle), 7. Cyle Brink (Centurion), 8. Nizaam Carr (Harlequins), 9. Embrose Papier (UP Tuks), 10. Chris Smith (Harlequins), 11. David Kriel (Centurion), 12. Chris Barend Smit (Harlequins), 13. Stedman Gans (Northam Rhinos), 14. Cornal Hendricks (Northam Rhinos), 15. Johan Goosen (Naka Bulle). REPLACEMENTS: 16. Simphiwe Matanzima (Naka Bulle), 17. Joe van Zyl (Harlequins), 18. Mornay Smith (Centurion), 19. Reinhardt Ludwig (UP Tuks), 20. Mihlali Mosi (Centurion), 21. Keagan Johannes (UP Tuks), 22. Sibongile Novuka (Naka Bulle), 23. Wandisile Simelane (Centurion).
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