Steyn back to face Sharks
Their most experienced player ever, Morné Steyn, is back in the starting line-up of the Bulls team to play the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Steyn came off the bench in last weekend's win over the Southern Kings much earlier than planned, having to replace Louis Fouché (who tore knee ligaments) and continued to set the high standards expected.
He is one of three changes to the starting line-up.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke also changed his midfield combination.
Wynand Olivier has departed for France, resulting in Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht combining again – with Serfontein moving to his preferred inside berth.
There are a number of changes on the bench.
Jano Vermaak has recovered from his hamstring injury and replaces Rudi Paige, Callie Visagie and Willie Wepener rotates again at hooker and Jürgen Visser comes into the squad as back-up flyhalf.
Morné Mellett comes into the side in place of the Paris-bound Juandrè Kruger, as Ludeke opted for two props on the bench.
"We have had a lot of disruptions since the squad returned – with injuries to the likes of Pierre [Spies], Arno [Botha], Louis [Fouché], along with the departures of Wynand (Olivier) and Juandrè (Kruger), certainly not making life easier for us," coach Frans Ludeke said.
"Fortunately we have always backed the depth of our squad and that is bearing fruit," Ludeke added.
"We will face a Sharks team that will be desperate, as they need to win to keep their play-off hopes alive, but we have also goals to achieve and to get there, we need to keep on winning."
Bulls captain, Dewald Potgieter, said the focus will be solely on doing the basics right as a team.
"We are not looking at the bigger picture yet," Potgieter said.
"We need to beat a very strong Sharks side packed with class players and lots of experience. We need to back ourselves, execute what has worked for us for far and most important, show up as a team on Saturday."
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Jürgen Visser, 22 Morné Mellett.
Date: Saturday, July 6
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.15 (17.15 GMT)
Referee: Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Sieg van Staden (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
