Bulls 'rest' Pollard

 

Ludeke made seven changes in total to his starting team, which sees Pollard left out of the match-day 23 in a game when they need him most. 

 

There are three changes in the backline that faced the Brumbies last weekend and four in the pack.

 

Jesse Kriel, Travis Ismaiel and Jacques-Louis Potgieter all move into starting positions off the bench, replacing Jurgen Visser, Bjorn Basson and Pollard respectively. 

 

Visser and Basson will play off the bench, but Pollard will be rested for this clash.

 

Instead, Tian Schoeman, who joined the touring party on Tuesday, will be the back-up flyhalf on the bench.

 

In the pack, injured Deon Stegmann is replaced by Pieter Labuschagne, with Grant Hattingh moving to the bench to make way for Victor Matfield. 

The veteran lock will play in his 148th match at this level. In a straight swap, Jacques du Plessis starts at No.7 and Arno Botha moves to the bench.

 

Adriaan Strauss was only not considered due to the resting agreement with SARU, resulting in Callie Visagie running onto the field for his 50th match for the Bulls in the No.2 jersey. Jaco Visagie will be on the bench.

 

According to Ludeke this is do or die for the team.

 

"We have not achieved the results we have hoped for this far on tour and we have to win this one to stay in the competition," explained Ludeke.

 

"In fact, we see this as a knock-out match. We cannot afford defeat and will go into this match in play-off mode."

 

He is confident that the changes in the side will not impact their performances, especially as Pollard and Basson have started in all the matches so far.

 

"We have an excellent replacement in Pottie [Potgieter] as he has vast experience and is a proven competitor at this level. Bjorn [Basson] is playing great rugby, but needs a break and Travis [Ismaiel] has shown his potential this far off the bench. 

 

"It is great to have Victor back as the line-outs will be a key area for us," Ludeke said.

 

Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van de Merwe, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Bjorn Basson, 23 Jurgen Visser.

 

Date: Saturday, June 6

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-off: 15.30 (07.30 SA time; 05.30 GMT)

Referee: Nick Briant

Assistant referees: James Leckie, Michael Hogan

TMO: Ian Smith