New skipper for Bulls as Giliomee gets starting debut
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Vodacom Bulls have made wholesale changes to their starting XV for this week’s Investec Champions Cup opening round clash against Stade Français.
Handré Pollard returns to the starting line-up at flyhalf, with Elrigh Louw taking over the captaincy and Luan Giliomee earning his first start at fullback.
His selection at No.15 sees veteran Willie le Roux dropping to the bench to provide cover.
The Bulls have made multiple changes to their starting line-up following last week’s selection, with several players promoted from the replacements and others returning to the match-day squad.
Up front, Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Khutha Mchunu form an entirely new starting front row, replacing Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Francois Klopper.
Cobus Wiese also moves into the second row alongside JF van Heerden, with Ruan Vermaak dropping out of the 23-man squad.
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There is a reshuffle in the loose forwards with Marco van Staden and Louw moving into the starting line-up, with the latter assuming the captaincy, while Cameron Hanekom retains his place at No.8.
Hanro Liebenberg drops out of the match-day squad, while Jeandre Rudolph moves to the bench.
The backline sees further changes, with Cheswill Jooste coming in on the left wing and Sango Xamlashe selected at outside centre.
Harold Vorster and Sebastian de Klerk retain their places at inside centre and right wing respectively.
Among the replacements, Embrose Papier comes in for Keagan Johannes, while Stravino Jacobs joins Le Roux in providing backline cover.
Johan Grobbelaar, Steenekamp and Klopper are also named among the forwards on the bench.
Bulls: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Cheswill Jooste, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Stravino Jacobs, 23 Willie le Roux.
Date: Saturday, October 17
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 14.00 SAST (14.00 CEST, 12.00 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Jamie Parr (England)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
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