`Bulls make a pivotal change for Sharks face-off
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo made a pivotal change to his team for their Currie Cup Round Two encounter with the Sharks.
The team from Pretoria hosts the defending champions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Nomlomo drafted in Jaco van der Walt at flyhalf, with in-form Boeta Chamberlain shifted to fullback.
With a handful of players nursing injuries, Nomlomo also opted for a front row change.
Juann Else comes in for Joe van Zyl at hooker.
Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi is also given his first start of the season, in the No 14 jersey.
Both Henry Immelman, the fullback, and Van Zyl picked up niggles last weekend.
Dyantyi, meanwhile, returns from injury.
In a further nod to youth, Nomlomo has named three debutants on the bench in the shape of Esethu Mnebelele, Ruan Swart and JJ Theron.
Nomlomo believes the Sharks will be much improved after their season-opening defeat last weekend.
“Without a doubt, they’ll be 10 percent better,” the coach said.
“It will be a tough game.
“People mustn’t get the false hope that the Sharks are this and that. They’re still a darn good team, well coached, who won the Cup last year with youngsters initially.”
Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Ruan Swart, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 JJ Theron, 21 Steven Nel, 22 PA van Niekerk, 23 Cornel Smit.
Date: Saturday, August 2
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT)
Referee: Sean Muller
Assistant referees: Dylen November, Lulutho Matomela
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
