Botha in for injured Lappies

 

This is one of four changes to the Bulls pack, who face the Crusaders at Loftus on Saturday.

 

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has brought Botha, Victor Matfield, Trevor Nyakane and Morné Mellett into the starting XV this week.

 

The four forwards played off the bench in last weekend's narrow 25-24 victory against the Force.

 

Matfield's benching last weekend was the first time this season that the 37-year-old lock was not named in the Bulls' starting XV.

 

Nyakane and Mellett swap places with Dean Greyling and Marcel van der Merwe in two of the four changes to the pack.

 

While Matfield's claim to the No.5 jersey sees Grant Hattingh returning to his regular role as impact player. 

 

Finally, Hanro Liebenberg takes up Botha's spot on the bench.

 

Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Morné Mellett.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Hanro Liebenberg, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Jurgen Visser.

 

Date: Saturday, March 28

Kick-off: 19:10 (06.10 NZST, 17.10 GMT)

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)

TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)