Jake White and his management clearly intend to earn league points when the Bulls take on Munster in Limerick on Saturday to defend their third place on the United Rugby Championship (URC) log.

White’s team selection, which includes nine Springboks in the starting line-up – six of which are forwards – gives an indication of the seriousness with which this match is being approached.

In addition, the Bulls’ bench for Saturday boasts another Springbok and several players who are currently in brilliant form.

With a tight five that includes four Springboks and Cobus Wiese, who was also knocking hard on the Springbok team’ door before his injury earlier this year, it is clear that the Bulls want to take on their Irish opponents without mercy up front.

Together with these five, Marcel Coetzee, who is currently playing the kind of rugby that made him a Springbok star, as well as the experienced Jannes Kirsten and the rising superstar, Cameron Hanekom, will be able to properly test the men from Limerick during the set pieces as well as at the breakdown.

Bulls fans will also hope that after his long absence due to injury, Johan Goosen will once again display his form and confidence of a few seasons ago, which could make him a match-winner at fly half.

This match could be crucial for the Bulls’ season. Five league points against Munster could theoretically put them in a position to take second place on the log after their current tour of Europe.

White’s men will conclude the tour next week against Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors, the team that surprisingly beat them in the URC final at Loftus Versfeld last season. If they can beat Munster and get revenge against the defending champion, they will have an excellent chance of finishing second on the log and therefore playing at least two play-off matches in Pretoria.

The difference between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors on the URC log is currently only four points, and the Scottish team, whose egos took a huge hit after their 0-52 thrashing against Leinster in the Champions Cup tournament last week, will probably still be licking their wounds next week.

The Bulls of course also disappointed their supporters last week when the other Scottish team, Edinburgh, eliminated them in the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup. That is precisely why they can be expected to come up with a huge final effort in the last four league matches of the URC.

Kick-off time is 18:15

BULLS vs MUNSTER STARTING XV: 1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Ruan Nortje (c), 6. Marcell Coetzee, 7. Jannes Kirsten, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Canan Moodie, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. David Kriel, 14. Sebastian de Klerk, 15. Devon Williams.   REPLACEMENTS: 16. Johann Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. JF van Heerden, 20. Mpilo Gumede, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Keagan Johannes, 23. Stravino Jacobs

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