Immelman starts for Bulls as Jake White rings the changes
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed his team to face Lyon in their Champions Cup Round Two clash in France on Saturday.
Marcell Coetzee returns to the starting XV to lead the team in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The 32-year-old will form a back row with Marco van Staden and Mpilo Gumede on Saturday, while the second row consists of Deon Slabbert and Janko Swanepoel.
Simphiwe Matanzima, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Mornay Smith will form the front row.
Utility back Henry Immelman will make his long-awaited debut for the team. He will run out for the herd in the No.14 jersey.
Immelman will partner up with Sergeal Petersen who will be on the left wing with Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe combining as the centre pairing.
Vorster returns to full-match fitness since being sidelined by a foot niggle two months ago and he starts at inside centre.
Devon Williams starts at fullback having consistently impressed since joining the Loftus team.
Zak Burger starts at scrumhalf with Chris Smith lacing up at flyhalf.
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Merwe Olivier, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.
Date: Saturday, December 16
Venue: Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Kick-off: 18.30 (19.30 SAST; 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
