The Vodacom Bulls have named a powerful, Springbok-laden lineup for Saturday’s north-south derby against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld
The Vodacom Bulls have named a powerful, Springbok-laden lineup for Saturday’s north-south derby against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld
Coach Johan Ackermann has recalled several experienced forwards to the starting pack as his side looks to claim the honours in one of South African rugby’s fiercest rivalries.
Front-row heavy hitters Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw all return to the starting XV after beginning the previous clash against the Sharks on the bench. That means Alulutho Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Mornay Smith move to the replacements to provide second-half impact.
There is also a tweak in the loose trio, with the in-form Jeandré Rudolph promoted from the bench to start at No 8. He joins captain Marcell Coetzee and Elrigh Louw, who both retain their places in the starting side.
The Bulls have opted for complete continuity in the backline.
The experienced halfback pairing of Embrose Papier and Handré Pollard continues at nine and 10, while the dangerous back three of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk and David Kriel once again spearhead the attack.
Among the replacements, the Bulls have stacked their bench with experience and physicality.
Marco van Staden is set to mark his 100th appearance for the Bulls, while Cobus Wiese also provides muscle among the forward reserves.
Paul de Wet and Willie le Roux offer experienced backline cover as the Bulls look to close out the derby strongly in the final quarter.
- BULLS – 15 David Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Marcell Coetzee (c), 6 Elrigh Louw, 5 Ruan Vermaak, 4 JF van Heerden, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Devon Williams.
Extravagance takes a back seat to set-piece simplicity,” Keohane notes.
The Bulls have momentum after Vodacom URC wins against the Lions and Sharks, while the Stormers seek a response after three successive defeats. Yet Keohane warns against prediction.
“Rip up the form book, ignore individual player pedigree,” he writes, because when Bulls meet Stormers the only certainty is intensity.
