Bulls suffer huge blow hours before quarterfinal kick-off
INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls have been dealt a major setback just hours before their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal clash against Munster at Loftus Versfeld.
The Pretoria outfit confirmed on Saturday that Springbok prop Wilco Louw has been ruled out of the crucial encounter due to bronchitis.
Louw’s late withdrawal has forced a reshuffle in the Bulls’ matchday squad, with Francois Klopper promoted to the starting line-up. While Monray Smith comes onto the replacements bench.
The loss of Louw is a significant blow for the Bulls as they prepare for a crucial knockout fixture against the Irish province.
The experienced front-rower is set to leave Pretoria at the end of the season, with a move to the Stormers already confirmed.
*READ: URC Quarterfinal predictions
Bulls – revised: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen
Date: Saturday, May 30
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 13.00 SAST (12.00 IST; 11.00 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Federico Vedovelli (Italy), Fillipo Russo (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)