Namibia v Bulls - Teams
PREVIEW: Namibia will be entering their final preparation stages for the 2023 World Cup and they will face the Bulls in Windhoek on Saturday.
The Bulls are also ramping up preparations for the new 2023/24 campaign and Jake White has named a 25-man squad for the trip.
The Bulls will be led by Reinhardt Ludwig with exciting debuts on the cards for new recruits.
Deon Slabbert, Mpilo Gumede, Jaco van der Walt and Sergeal Petersen will all run out for the Bulls for the first time since arriving at Loftus.
The outing will also be a welcomed return for ‘Rocket Man’ Stravino Jacobs who has recovered from his season-ending injury suffered earlier in the year.
Director of Rugby Jake White has assembled a front row that features Dylan Smith (loosehead), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (hooker) and Robert Hunt (tighthead) with a lock combination of Slabbert and Ludwig at second row.
WJ Steenkamp (blindside) and Mihlali Mosi (openside) start on the flanks with Gumede at No.8, completing the back row.
Zak Burger pairs up with Van der Walt at halfback with Jacobs (left wing) and Sibongile Novuka (right wing) flanking the centre combination of Chris Barend Smit and Cornal Hendricks.
Petersen starts at fullback.
Teams:
Namibia squad: Jason Benade, Adriaan Booysen, Aranos Coetzee, Wian Conradie, Tiaan de Klerk, Prince Gaoseb, Richard Hardwick, Max Katjijeko, Adriaan Ludick, Johan Retief, Desiderius Sethie, Mahepisa Tjeriko, Tjiuee Uanivi, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, PJ van Lill, Casper Viviers. Oela Blaauw, Danco Burger, Johan Deysel, JC Greyling, Cliven Loubser, Le Roux Malan, Gerswin Mouton, Chad Plato, Alcino Isaacs, Divan Rossouw, Damian Stevens, Tiaan Swanepoel, Jacques Theron, Andre van der Berg.
Bulls: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig (captain), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessel, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Simphiwe Matanzima, 19. Ruan Venter, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Hanekom, 23 Juan Mostert, 24 Eugene Hare, 25. Kabelo Mokoena.
Date: Saturday, August 26
Venue: WHS Vegkop Stadium, Windhoek
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
Assistant referees: TBC
TMO: TBC
