Smith gets pivotal role as Bulls aim to disarm Chiefs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have revealed a settled team for their Round Three Champions Cup clash against the Exeter Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
There are just two changes to the starting team that beat the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship in Newport last weekend.
Chris Smith is fit and he comes in and gets the No.10 jersey this week with Johan Goosen dropping down to the bench. Smith was set to start against the Dragons last week, but a cold ruled him out of action.
The other change is in the pack where Nizaam Carr takes over the No.7 jersey from Cyle Brink, who is nursing a niggle.
Meanwhile, Ruan Nortje will lead a strong pack again with Gerard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar and Mornay Smith line up in the front row with Ruan Vermaak alongside his captain in the second row.
Carr will be joined by Marco van Staden and Elrigh Louw in the back row.
Zak Burger also keeps his place at No.9 while David Kriel (left) and Canan Moodie (right) start at wing with Harold Vorster (inside) and Wandisile Simelane (outside) linking up as the centre pairing with Kurt-Lee Arendse at fullback.
Nortje’s herd boasts an experienced and influential bench with the likes of Bismarck Du Plessis, Dylan Smith, Goosen and Lionel Mapoe all lining up alongside bright young stars in Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp and Embrose Papier.
“We have got to front up on Saturday, sticking to our systems, which will help us do well,” said Bulls forwards coach Russell Winter.
“We have to try hard and stay within what we have been coached and try to break them down in the way that they want to play, that is how we are going to get the result.
“We are playing one of the top clubs in a top premium franchise competition, so the intensity will be higher and we are going to have to match it and improve our intensity if we want to make that we get the win. We have to be up for it physically, mentally and on our game, they might find some cracks; but if we do what we train, then we will be okay.
“We know they [Exeter] are a very good side, we know that they are well coached and we know that in the game that we played against them [in Exeter on December 17] they really put in a big scrum and mauling performance. We know their pack of forwards is a really good set of forwards, they really play and play expansive rugby as well if they want to
Winter added: “We have to prepare for all these things and come Saturday, we are going to put our best foot forward and hopefully we have prepared well enough to win the game.”
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Gerard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
Date: Saturday, January 14
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.30 (17.30 UK & Ireland time; 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas (France) & Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
