Bulls keep their winning recipe
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named a unchanged starting XV to face the Southern Kings in their first ever Super Rugby clash in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The same run-on team that beat the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld last week will front up against the Kings, but the return to fitness by Bjorn Basson sees one change on the bench.
Try scoring ace Basson replaces Ulrich Beyers among the reserve.
Springbok scrumhalf Francois Hougaard was still not in contention for selection, with the scrumhalf still nursing a ankle injury and tight hamstring – which have sidelined him for a sixth successive week.
"We had to work very hard for the win against the Cheetahs and we want that momentum carried over into the Kings match," Ludeke said.
"I am pleased with the way the combinations worked on the night and decided to stick with that.
"We will need to be very structured and cohesive against the Kings, who will be fired up and spurred on by a sell-out crowd. To have an unchanged team will hopefully offset those early challenges," Ludeke added.
Bulls captain Pierre Spies said they had to dig deep and needed all 22 in the squad to beat the Cheetahs.
"That is something that will work in our favour when facing the Kings for the first time," Spies said.
"We need to focus on our own game and not allow the crowd to get into the match, so need to have a strong start and keep up the effort," the captain added.
Veteran flyhalf Mornè Steyn, already the most capped backline player to represent the Bulls, will move to third in the all-time stakes with his 114th appearance – moving past Pedrie Wannenburg, now in fourth place.
Steyn could also extend his numerous points scoring records which include total number of points (1298 including 12 tries), penalties (242), conversions (220) and drop goals (240).
Bulls: 15 Jürgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Sefontein, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Mornè Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Paul Willemse, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Louis Fouchè, 22 Bjorn Basson.
Date: Saturday, April 20
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwessen (South Africa)
