Can Bulls surprise Leinster on their home turf again?

On Friday evening at 21:35 (SA time) the Bulls will return for the first time to the RDS Arena in Dublin since that day in June 2022 when they shocked the mighty Leinster team in the semi-final of the first official United Rugby Championship (URC) tournament.

The Bulls beat Leinster that day 27-26, to qualify for the final of the series against the Stormers.

Although this time it is not a do-or-die battle as it was then, the two teams play against each other on Friday evening as the two leaders on the URC log. The winner should therefore be the favourite to finish first on the log in the current series.

Last year during the league match between the two teams at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls scored nine tries against the Irish giants and humiliated them with a 62-7 victory. One must admit that Leinster sent their B-team to Pretoria, but for a proud team like them it would still have been a bitter pill to swallow.

So, what will happen Friday night – is it revenge for the Irish or more of the same for the Bulls?

Jake White has made six changes to the match-day 23 that convincingly beat the Dragons of Newport in Wales last weekend.

One of the men returning to the team is Elrich Louw, who was sidelined by a shoulder bump. But the bulldozing forward returns to the starting lineup where he will lace up his boots alongside Marco van Staden and Marcell Coetzee in the third row.

In front of them will be the lock duo of Ruan Nortje and Vermaak. The forwards will have Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe and Wilco Louw upfront.

Behind the forwards will be halfback duo, Embrose Papier at scrumhalf and Johan Goosen directing traffic at flyhalf.

At the back, Canan Moodie is retained at outside centre and to his left, he will be joined by David Kriel who returns to the matchday squad. Devon Williams switches to left wing with Kurt-Lee Arendse running out on the right-hand side of the park. Willie le Roux will manage affairs from fullback in South Dublin.

Jake White has opted for a five-three split impact squad which will see Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Mpilo Gumede, Zak Burger, Chris Smith and Harold Vorster on standby to do duty.

White said the match will be a great opportunity to test the progress of his side and a great advert for the competition.

“They are an incredible team, one of the best clubs in the world and this group of players have played in many big games, test matches included. So, I am not for one minute underestimating the magnitude of this one-versus-two clash in front of a sold-out audience,” he remarked.

White said his team must at least give themselves a chance.

“We don’t want to come here and not fire a shot. This is a great opportunity for us to give it a go,” he concluded.

BULLS vs LEINSTER STARTING XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Elrigh Louw, 8. Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Devon Williams, 12. David Kriel, 13. Canan Moodie, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Willie Le Roux

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Reinhardt Ludwig, 20. Mpilo Gumede, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Harold Vorster

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