Bulls ring the changes

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made seven changes to his starting side to play the Blues in Auckland on Sunday.

It is the first of their four matches on their Australasian tour

The starting team shows changes at wing, centre, scrumhalf, loose forward, prop and hooker from the one that had the bonus point win over the Western Force last weekend, with injuries and the return to fitness the main reasons for that.

Injured wing Bjorn Basson is replaced by Lionel Mapoe, who moves from outside centre, where a fit again JJ Engelbrecht returns to the side.

Akona Ndungane is also back in action and will play in his first match of the season in place of Sampie Mastriet.

Jano Vermaak also earns a first start this season in place of Francois Hougaard, with the latter playing off the bench. Hougaard is struggling with an ankle strain.

Deon Stegmann returns to the fray having recovered from his hamstring strain and replaces Jacques Potgieter who moves to the bench. Potgieter takes the place of Jean Cook, who is not in the touring squad.

With both Werner Kruger and Chiliboy Ralepelle having small niggles, Ludeke opted to start with Frik Kirsten and Willie Wepener in the front row.

Ralepelle and Kruger will be joined on the bench by Super Rugby debutant, Jürgen Visser.

The versatile Blue Bulls player finally gets a chance to play Super Rugby following a stellar Currie Cup season last year.

"We have talked about our depth and this is a great opportunity to really test that," Ludeke said of his team selection.

"All the guys who start for the first time this season will be very keen and it will also give some respite to those who are feeling a bit sore after the first couple of matches."

The Blues will be a tough opponent, Ludeke said.

"Both their wins were well deserved. They play very enterprising rugby.

"We have been up and down and our aim will be to produce the good spells for longer. We also know we will have to pick up points on tour if we want to be around at the business end of the competition."

Milestones this week:

* Morné Steyn is South Africa’s leading points’ scorer in Super Rugby and could extend any of the following records: 1242 points; 213 conversions; 228 penalties and 23 drop-goals.

* Wynand Olivier will play in his 106th Super Rugby match, making his the country’s most experienced midfielder.

* Jano Vermaak will make only his second start since joining the Bulls in 2012. His last start was against the Blues on March 10, 2012.

* Willie Wepener will make his first start for the Bulls since joining them in 2012. All of his 15 matches since have been off the bench.

* Frik Kirsten will make his first ever start for the Bulls in his 18th appearances for the team.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.

Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Jürgen Visser.

Date: Sunday, March 10

Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

Kick-off: 16.05 (05.05 SA time; 03.05 GMT)

Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (New Zealand)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)