'New' playmaker and captain for Bulls
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls prepare to take on the Griffons with a rotated side ahead of the Currie Cup round 13 clash at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
At the front, Jan-Hendrik Wessels comes in for Johan Grobbelaar with Francois Klopper lining up alongside him,
swapping places with Mornay Smith who slots into the impact squad.
In the second row, the lock combination sees Ruan Vermaak pair up with Janko Swanepoel who comes into the fold in place of regular captain Ruan Nortje.
The lock’s absence means that Marcell Coetzee will captain the team.
Coetzee will be at the blindside along with Cyle Brink and No.8 Nizaam Carr as the loose trio.
At the back Embrose Papier will have a new partner at halfback as Chris Smith starts at flyhalf.
Smith’s place at pivot will see Johan Goosen moving to fullback, while David Kriel move to left wing this week, where he will pair up with Cornal Hendricks on the right.
Chris Barend Smit will start at inside centre replacing Harold Vorster with Stedman Gans retaining his spot at outside centre.
The impact squad has Simphiwe Matanzima, Joe van Zyl, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Mihlali Mosi, Keagan Johannes, Sibongile Novuka and Wandisile Simelane who returns from a hamstring niggle.
Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Joe van Zyl, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Sibongile Novuka, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Friday, June 2
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison Phumzile Mbewu
TMO: AM Jacobs
