Jake rejigs Bulls for Zebre hunt
03/28/2025 06:39 AM
Ruan Nortje returns but Cameron Hanekom is among the notable absentees as Jake White switches up the Vodacom Bulls lineup to face Zebre Parma at Loftus on Saturday.
Nortje, who injured his knee during the Jukskei derby on 25 January, and prop Simphiwe Matanzima (long-term illness) are in line to feature off the bench in the round 14 Vodacom URC clash in Pretoria.
Matanzima had to be hospitalised in October 2024 after playing with a virus that has affected his heart.
Boeta Chamberlain has also been recalled as one of two backs on a 6-2 bench – the other is scrumhalf Embrose Papier. Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden and Nizaam Carr make up the rest of the replacements.
Hanekom and fellow Springbok Johan Grobbelaar, who suffered knocks in last week's last-gasp victory against Leinster, both drop out of the match-day squad.
MORE: Bulls aren't stupid – Kriel
No 8 Mpilo Gumede and hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels are promoted to the starting XV while in the backs, fullback Devon Williams and right winger Sergeal Petersen take over from the injured Willie le Roux and Sebastian de Klerk (suspension). At half-back, Zak Burger starts at scrumhalf alongside Keagan Johannes.
Wessels is joined in the front row by props Alulutho Tshakweni and Mornay Smith. Locks Ruan Vermaak and JF van Heerden have been retained in the second row, likewise flankers Jannes Kirsten and Marcell Coetzee, who continues as captain.
The Bulls enter the match as overwhelming favourites with nine wins to only five by Zebre. Over and above this, White's men, in third place on the log, are 18 log points ahead of the Italians, who are second from bottom.
BULLS – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
The post Jake rejigs Bulls for Zebre hunt appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
