Bulls change just one
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made just one change to his team for the big north-south Super Rugby derby against the Stormers.
JJ Engelbrecht, who sat on the bench in the win over the Cheetahs last week, return to the No.13 jersey in place of William Small-Smith, who moves back down to the replacements.
Stalwart prop Dean Greyling will play in his 50th Super Rugby match for his team at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Greyling, who made his debut for the men in blue in 2008 against the Lions, will again line-up in a front row that will also consist of Callie Visagie (hooker) and Marcel van der Merwe (tighthead) – as Ludeke retained the pack that was so impressive in their second-half comeback against the Cheetahs.
Victor Matfield will again lead the side, as Flip van der Merwe serves his last week of suspension.
Matfield will extend a number of Super Rugby records.
He is the most capped South African ever in the competition and will play in his 135th match, holds the Bulls franchise record of 126 matches and the South African record as captain (78).
Akona Ndungane (104 caps) will extend his Bulls record as a wing and Werner Kruger (103) his record as most capped Bulls prop when he takes to the field.
Lock Paul Willemse scored his first Super Rugby try against the Toyota Cheetahs last weekend, which means that everyone in the Bulls starting line-up has now scored at least one career try in the competition.
Francois Hougaard needs one try to score 100 Super Rugby points.
Coach Frans Ludeke will take charge of his 128th Super Rugby match (104 Bulls, 23 Cats/Lions). This makes him the most experienced South African coach in the competition ever and only second to current Australia national coach Ewen McKenzie’s 131 (Reds (2010-2013: 65); Waratahs (2004-2008: 66)
Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Morné Mellett, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Wimpie van der Walt, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 23 William Small-Smith.
Date: Saturday, May 10
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco van Heerden
TMO: Johan Greeff
