Bok prop on Bulls bench for WP clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has opted for consistency ahead of the Currie Cup clash against Western Province after making minor changes to the team that emerged victorious against Lions last Sunday.
The Bulls will head into the clash in Cape Town on Friday night with a new front row as props Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith are handed starting berths, replacing the previous match’s starters, Simphiwe Matanzima and Jacques van Rooyen.
Marcell Coetzee, who was a late omission from the team last week due to illness, makes a return in the No.6 jersey and will retain the captaincy.
Springbok loosehead prop, Lizo Gqoboka, slots back into the matchday 23 as bench cover following his release from the national team camp.
The side will also receive a boost in the form of Nizaam Carr, another late casualty last week who was withdrawn on matchday after picking up a niggle ahead of the Jukskei Derby.
White said ahead of the game: “The North versus South derby never fails to produce exciting, quality rugby. We expect nothing less this week in Cape Town.
“We have had a good few days of training after our fixture on Sunday, where we have had time to work on a few critical areas of improvement as well as enhancing the aspects where we fared well. Western Province is a combative side that are also strong contenders for the title, so we will need to be at the top of our game on Friday night.”
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Muller Uys, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sibongile Novuka.
Date: Friday, July 30
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Rasta Rasivhenge
