Greyling, Hougaard boost for Bulls
Dean Greyling will make his first start for the Bulls this season, when the Pretoria-based side takes on the Waratahs in a Super Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Greyling missed the first part of the season due to a stress fracture in his foot and played his way back to match fitness with some stellar performances in the Blue Bulls side in the last couple of weeks.
He replaces Morné Mellett, who has started in all eight matches this season.
The change at prop is one of four made by Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, from the side that outplayed the Southern Kings – with the return of fit-again players the main criteria in selection.
Try-scoring ace Bjorn Basson will start on the left wing ahead of Lionel Mapoe.
Dewald Potgieter will take over from fellow Springbok Deon Stegmann in the fetcher role.
Werner Kruger also comes in for injured Frik Kirsten at tighthead prop.
Francois Hougaard has being cleared following an ankle injury and will play of the bench ahead of Rudi Paige, while Wilhelm Steenkamp will replace the injured Paul Willemse as the third lock in the squad.
Willie Wepener replaces Callie Visagie as back-up hooker.
"We finally played the rugby we wanted last weekend and the challenge will be to back it up against the Waratahs," Ludeke said.
"They are dangerous opponents and at this level the margins are very small, so we cannot afford to play at any level other than our best."
Bulls captain Pierre Spies added: "They are capable of beating anyone, as they showed against the Chiefs last week.
"We will need to use the momentum we have created last week on attack, but from a defensive perspective, they will ask a lot of new questions.
"We will have to answer all of them if we want to keep on winning."
Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Lionel Mapoe.
Date: Saturday, April 27
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT; 01.05 Sunday, April 28 AEST)
Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
