Bulls load up with host of Springboks

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have picked their strongest team in four years to face Ulster in Round Three of the Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Bulls’ Director of Rugby Jake White wasted no time in calling back all of his Springboks.

It will be a vastly different side from the one that scraped through against Edinburgh last weekend.

Back from national duty are Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

“This will be the strongest team we have fielded in four years from an experience point of view, and an achievement point of view; like we have Springboks in key positions and even on the bench,” White said of the team he picked.

Nortje and Louw will co-captain the side that will face the Irish giants.

When the two teams met last year in Ulster, it was the hosts who came out on top (26-19).

Last week White’s team managed a close 22-16 victory against Edinburgh but it wasn’t a polished performance.

Look who’s 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆! 🇿🇦 🤩​
​#VodacomTurns30 | @Vodacom #URC | #HitsDifferent pic.twitter.com/emrgoJeZGn

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 4, 2024

Moodie – who scored a try and made 115 metres – together with Cameron Hanekom were the standout players for the Bulls in that encounter.

Boeta Chamberlain takes over the flyhalf duties from Jaco van der Walt, who is out of the 23 while David Kriel moves back to his preferred position of centre, having played fullback last weekend.

Up front, Wilco Louw retains his spot and will partner with Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp on the front row. Behind them, Cobus Wiese will combine with his skipper Nortje for the first time at lock

The loose trio of Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, and Hanekom sees Nama Xaba Jannes Kirsten fall out of contention.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi

Date: Saturday, October 5
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 16.00 (15.00 Ireland & UK time; 14.00 GMT)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Dylen November
Television Match Official: Ben Breakspear