Bulls get their captain back
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Marcel Coetzee will return to lead the Bulls during the must-win United Rugby Championship (URC) match against the Lions on Saturday.
The Springbok forward returns to the starting XV after coming off the bench in last weekend’s defeat against Stormers.
The front row will see a change with the props as Simphiwe Matanzima dons the No1 jersey and Jacques van Rooyen starts at tighthead prop, with Johan Grobbelaar retaining the No2 jumper.
In the backline, Canan Moodie will be the latest Bulls player to make his URC debut on Saturday.
The 19-year-old, who was vice-captain of the Bulls Under-20 side last year, will be earn a starting berth on the wing and will be the only uncapped player in the starting XV.
Moodie will be surrounded by a wealth of experience in the Bulls backline which will see veteran Springbok flyhalf, Morné Steyn, returning to the starting team alongside scrumhalf Embrose Papier, while the midfield pairing will consist of Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe.
Kurt-Lee Arendse will start at fullback this weekend with Madosh Tambwe at left wing.
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Janko Swanepoel , 20 Muller Uys; 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith , 23 David Kriel.
Date: Saturday, January 29
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Griffin Colby
TMO: AJ Jacobs
