Bulls have Pollard at No.12
Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard will play at inside centre when the Blue Bulls take on Western Province in the Currie Cup semifinals in Cape Town on Saturday.
Pollard will replace injured Burger Odendaal for the match at Newlands, in one of two backline changes made by coach Frans Ludeke.
In the other, Rudy Paige will start at scrumhalf, with Piet van Zyl playing off the bench.
Pollard came off the bench in the final Currie Cup league match against Griquas last weekend and his place amongst the reserves will be taken by Sampie Mastriet.
In the pack, Ludeke rotated Marcel van der Merwe and Werner Kruger, with the latter starting at Newlands.
Ludeke has no issues with the Springbok pivot playing at inside centre.
"It was easy to slot in Handré at No.12, where he played a lot last year. He fitted in nicely and we are expecting a special effort from him, but this will not be won by individuals, but in a mighty team effort."
Blue Bulls: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Handré Pollard, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jono Ross, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Deon Stegmann (captain), 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bongo Mbonambi, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 19 Wiaan Liebenberg, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Sampie Mastriet, 22 Jesse Kriel.
Date: Saturday, October 18
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker, Linston Manuels
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
