Bulls lose a Bok ahead of Northampton showdown

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Elrigh Louw is among eight changes made to the Bulls side that will take on Northampton Saints in the second round of the 2024/25 Champions Cup.

The Springbok returns to lead the team in front of home support at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The bad news for the Bulls is that fellow Springbok loose forward Marco van Staden is out with an ankle injury.

“Marco [van Staden] has had to go for an ankle repair and Mpilo [Gumede] is still serving his suspension,” said Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White.

Fellow loose forward Nizaam [Carr] was also ruled out with appendicitis.

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Meanwhile, amongst the changes are forwards trio Wilco Louw, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Deon Slabbert all returning to the fold.

Wessels makes his return to action after recovering from an ankle injury, whilst Slabbert will get to make his first run in blue since arriving for his second loan spell in the capital.

Wilco’s return to the starting XV sees him slot into the front row alongside Gerhard Steenekamp and hooker Akker van der Merwe.

Ruan Vermaak and Junior Springbok JF van Heerden combine again in the second row, with skipper Louw starting at flank alongside Marcell Coetzee.

At the back of the pack will be Springbok Cameron Hanekom at No.8.

White has opted to retain the same backline that did duty in the opening round of the campaign.

Willie le Roux will run at fullback with Canan Moodie and David Kriel at centre, while Sebastian de Klerk and Devon Williams will run out as wings.

The only other changes made to the matchday squad are in the impact squad. Kuyenzeka Xaba, Zak Burger, Boeta Chamberlain and Stedman Gans are all set to make a return to the matchday fold.

Forwards Alulutho Tshakweni and Francois Klopper are the other players who complete the five-three split bench.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Stedman Gans.

Date: Saturday, December 14
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referee: Jeremy Rozier (France), Adrien Marbot (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)