Ackermann reveals tactic to unleash Bulls' new-look back three

INTERVIEW: Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann explained his selection choices and what he expects from a new-look back three in their Champions Cup opener against Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Ackermann made several personnel and positional changes following their 57-15 United Rugby Championship victory over the Lions last weekend.

Two players will don the Bulls jersey for the first time: Luan Giliomee on debut and Sango Xamlashe, who returns to Loftus Versfeld after representing the Bulls’ Currie Cup side once in 2021 before moving to Griquas.

Ackermann explained his reasoning for his overall matchday selection and highlighted why he backed Giliomee and Xamlashe to start in such a crucial fixture.

“We wanted to give the guys an opportunity, so the front row is just a straight swap. Cobus [Wiese] played off the bench a lot, so we opted to give him a starting opportunity,” Ackermann said on Thursday.

“Marco [Van Staden] hasn’t played much in the back row for us for some time [having covered hooker] and we feel it’s a position he is still very good at.

“Handre [Pollard] and Curwin [Bosch] are just a straight swap with Handre starting.

“Cheswill Jooste has been quite patient after featuring off the bench or missing out on selection so far this season, and Sango [Xamlashe] trained really well, and we want to see what he can bring at this level and the same counts for Luan [Giliomee].

“He [Giliomee] slotted in nicely, and we feel he knows everything now; it’s a week and a half later and will be close to two weeks by Saturday since he joined the Bulls, and we just want to see what he can do from fullback.”

Continues below…

Johan Ackermann selected a new-look Bulls outfit to face Stade Francais in their Champions Cup opener 🔥😎

Link to the team announcement: https://t.co/11auKv1Unt

🌐#Rugby365 #BULvSFP #ChampionsCup https://t.co/5kLnqshYph

— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) October 15, 2026

Giliomee forms part of a back three alongside fellow youngster Cheswill Jooste and the experienced Sebastian de Klerk.

Ackermann backed the new combination to fire and outlined what he expects from them should the game get a bit unstructured.

“It’s all new combinations in a sense; Cheswill [Jooste] and Sebastian [De Klerk] have been with us for some time, so Luan is the newbie in the mix.

“In saying that, it’s a combination we would like to test and see what they can bring; if it’s a nice, warm matchday, we can look to tire them down and hopefully get these guys into a bit of space, and hopefully we’ll see that.”

The Bulls are without the services of Springbok Canan Moodie, who missed selection due to a concussion he suffered against the Lions.

Moodie was brilliant in the air fielding high balls against the Lions, but Ackermann threw his backing behind the new back three to step up to the task, despite being smaller in stature as a combination.

“Obviously Canan [Moodie] is an exceptional talent and fielding the high ball is one of his strengths, but Cheswill showed he can do the job and we know Sebastian is good in the air.

“The thing with Cheswill is that many forget that he’s still 19 years old and he must just back himself, which is something he sometimes tends not to do, but he is one of the most explosive guys the S&C’s [Strength and conditioning coaches] said they’ve worked with.

“He can jump higher than any other guy, so he must just jump higher and he will be fine,” a chuckling Ackermann added.