Jake calls on Carr to drive Bulls' bus

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Seasoned campaigner Nizaam Carr returns to action to lead the Bulls when they take on French outfit Castres Olympique at the Stade Pierre-Fabre in the South of France in the third round of the Champions Cup.

The Pretoria outfit will be hunting for a full house of points to keep alive their dreams of advancing to the next round of the tournament.

Alulutho Tshakweni will line up alongside Springbok Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Mornay Smith as the trio make up the front row.

Behind them will be the lock pairing of JF van Heerden and United Rugby Championship winner Sintu Manjezi, back from Glasgow Warriors, with Kuyenzeka Xaba and Celimpilo Gumede lacing up their studs at loose forward alongside the captain, Carr.

Scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde and flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain will link up at halfback and behind them will be the wing combination of Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sibongile Novuka on the
left and right side of the park, respectively.

Chris Barend Smit starts at inside centre with Katlego Letebele on his right side at outside centre.

Henry Immelman will marshall the troops from fullback.

Director of Rugby Jake White has opted for a five-three split impact squad that will have Joe van Zyl, Dylan Smith, Sebastian Lombard, Deon Slabbert, Corné Beets, Keagan Johannes, Jaco van der Walt and Cornel Smit all on standby to add impetus to the cause.

Bulls: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 JF van Heerden, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Corné Beets, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cornel Smit

Date: Saturday, January 11
Venue: Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres
Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 GMT; 22.00 South African time)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales (England) & Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)