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Bulls tweak midfield after Moodie blow

By @rugby365com
Friday 9 Jan 2026

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann kept his word by selecting a powerful starting XV for Saturday’s Champions Cup match against the Bristol Bears at Loftus Versfeld.

Ten Springboks are in the starting line-up, which will again be led by Ruan Nortje.

The story continues below…

Embrose Papier, who produced a man-of-the-match performance against the Stormers after being called up at the 11th hour, gets the No. 9 jersey again and forms a halfback combination with Handre Pollard.

Harold Vorster will join David Kriel in the midfield after Canan Moodie was ruled out due to concussion protocols.

Bristol have a full house of points in the Champions Cup – two wins from as many starts – while the Bulls have yet to record a win after two matches.

This fixture, therefore, looms as a must-win affair for the home team if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen.

Date: Saturday, January 10
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 UK & IRE; 14.00 CET)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Jeremy Rozier (France), Benjamin Hernandez (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)

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