Bulls wield heavy axe
Yesterday at 09:01 AM
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have made wholesale changes to the starting XV for their Champions Cup Round Four match against Stade Francais on Saturday.
Knowing their Champions Cup season will conclude on Saturday, Jake White has opted to test some combinations as they look to seal a Challenge Cup spot.
The Bulls have yet to win a match and a victory over the French side would give them much-needed confidence.
Ruan Nortje and Elrich Louw will be co-captains for the showdown against the Top 14 side.
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Nortje returns to the starting line-up and partners with Ruan Vermaak in an all-new second-row pair.
Last weekend's captain Nizaam Carr moves to the bench with Cameron Hanekom replacing him at No.8.
Hanekom form the new loose trio alongside E. Louw and Marcelle Coetzee.
The scrums will be led by the frontrow of Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp.
In the backline, Devon Williams is at fullback, while wings Sebastian de Klerk and Sergeal Petersen complete the back trio.
Stedman Gans and Harold Voster are in the midfield, while Springbok duo Johan Goosen and Embrose Papier are the new halfback pairing.
Canan Moodie will inject the much-needed energy from the bench.
Meanwhile, Springbok Willie Le Roux and David Kriel will return next week for the United Rugby Championship match against the Lions.
Le Roux has been on his player protocol rest period, while Kriel is returning from injury
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marcelle Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Canan Moodie.
Date: Saturday, January 18
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 French time; 13.00 GMT)
Referee: Adam Leal (England)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Hamish Grant (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
