Bulls get key backline players back for Sharks clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face the Sharks in Durban on Friday.
The Bulls will enter the Currie Cup clash with a new-look front row.
With livewire hooker, Johan Grobbelaar, having been called up to the Springbok camp this week following impressive performances in the Bulls’ blue colours, Schalk Erasmus has been promoted to the starting XV, where he will be joined by Lizo Gqoboka and Mornay Smith as the new prop combination.
The versatile Cornal Hendricks, who has featured on the right wing in the previous two outings, will make a return to inside centre this week where he will partner up with Harold Vorster, who switches to No.13, for the midfield pairing.
Lionel Mapoe, who started in the No.13 jersey last weekend, is being rested due to a hip injury.
The backline has also received a boost with the return of Stedman Gans from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he represented the SA Sevens side.
Gans will slot into the No.11 jersey on the left wing, with ‘live-wire’ Madosh Tambwe also making a return.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Harold Vorster, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stedman Gans, 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 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements – from: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mhleli Dlamini, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sibongile Novuka, 24 Jacques van Rooyen, 25 Reinhardt Ludwig, 26 WJ Steenkamp, 27 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 28 Richard Kriel.
Date: Friday, August 6
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Yanga Sotshangane, Damian Varney
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
