Bulls make wholesale changes for Lions clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has finalised his team for Wednesday’s Currie Cup clash against the Lions.
The Bulls have been battling a COVID-19 outbreak in their squad in recent weeks and Wednesday’s match will be their first since December 12 when they lost 29-32 to the Sharks in Durban.
Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Nortjie, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Marnus Potgieter and David Kriel are the only players who have kept their place in the start XV since that match against the Sharks.
Potgieter moves from wing to centre for Wednesday’s match and he will partner Jay-Cee Nel in the midfield. Jade Stighling and Stravino Jacobs are the wings.
Chris Smith takes over the No.10 jersey and his halfback partner will be Embrose Papier.
In the pack, Elrigh Louw comes in for Arno Botha in the back row. In the second row, Jan Uys gets the No.4 jersey with Walt Steenkamp out of the matchday squad.
Schalk Erasmus and Lizo Gqoboka will join Trevor Nyakane in the front row.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Jay-Cee Nel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Arno Botha, 23 Tim Agaba.
Date: Wednesday, January 6
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Paul Mente, Morne Ferreira
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
