Bulls name all their Cheetahs
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has named all his off-season recruit from the Cheetahs for their opening match of the Super Rugby season, against the Stormers in Pretoria on Saturday.
Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss tops the list of recruits that will start at Loftus Versfeld.
Strauss, who made his Super Rugby debut for the Bulls in 2006 (eight matches), is back in the Pretoria side after a long stint with the Cheetahs – for whom he played 97 times.
The coach also included the other signings from the Cheetahs – flank Pieter Labuschagne and prop Trevor Nyakane.
Labuschagne played for Cheetahs in 27 matches (debut 2012) and Nyakane represented the same franchise 42 times (debut 2012).
Victor Matfield will lead the team onto the field for the 83rd time.
Regular captain Pierre Spies, who made his last appearance in Super Rugby in Round One last year against the Sharks in Durban before undergoing surgery for a torn bicep muscle, will play off the bench as he is eased back into action following his long lay-off.
Another player returning from a long lay-off is Arno Botha, who will start at No.8 for the first time in 22 matches for his franchise.
The loose forward last played for the Bulls in 2013 and missed last season due to injury.
According to Matfield it will not necessarily be the match-ups between individuals that will make the difference, but rather a team effort.
"Each side has different strengths and game breakers, so the one that plays the best as a unit and use their scoring opportunities should come out on top," the veteran lock said.
"It is going to be a great game and we are really looking forward to it. We have prepared long and hard and now just want to go out and play."
Ludeke included 20-year old prop Dayan van der Westhuizen onto the bench.
The Junior Springbok player is recovering from a bruised foot and should he not be able to take the field, another SA Under-20 prop, Neethling Fouchè, will take his place on the bench.
Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen/Neethling Fouchè, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Pierre Spies, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 23 Jesse Kriel.
Date: Saturday, February 14
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
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