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Botha back for Bulls

Botha comes in for injured Hanro Liebenberg at No.8 as Bulls coach Nollis Marais also made a couple of rotational changes from the side that lost to the Blues last weekend.

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Jesse Kriel moves from centre to fullback in place of Warrick Gelant, who will play off the bench. Burger Odendaal is back in the run-on team, and as in their win over the Sunwolves last month, will start with Jan Serfontein in the midfield, while at scrumhalf, Rudy Paige and Piet van Zyl swap jerseys, with Page starting this time.

The same happens up front at lock with Rudolph Snyman and Jason Jenkins swopping and at loosehead, while Lizo Gqoboka and Pierre Schoeman rotates again.

Jacobie Adriaanse, who missed out last weekend, is back on the bench in place of injured John-Roy Jenkinson. Jaco Visagie and Edgar Marutlulle also swops places, with the latter on the bench.

Strauss will extend his record as the most capped South African hooker in the tournament, playing in his 135th match.

Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Nick de Jager, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Pierre Schoeman. 

Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Warrick Gelant.

Date: Saturday, April 1

Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Kick-off: 19.35 (08.35 SA Time; 06.35 GMT)

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Cam Stone (New Zealand)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

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