Hanekom gets new role against Sharks

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Sergeal Petersen and Sintu Manjezi return to the Bulls’ matchday squad with Cameron Hanekom making a positional switch.

Petersen alongside Manjezi are named amongst a five-three replacement bench split that includes Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Francois Klopper, Marcell Coetzee, Keagan Johannes and Devon Williams.

The other changes to the starting line-up sees Canan Moodie shifting from outside centre to wing.

Harold Voster and Stedman Gans has been named as the centres, with Sebastian de Klerk joining Moodie at No.14 with veteran Willie Le Roux completing the back three at fullback.

Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen will run the show from the halfback position as they did against Northampton Saints.

The front-row also remains unchanged with with Springbok loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp, hooker Akker van der Merwe and tighthead prop Wilco Louw combining up-front.

Ruan Vermaak and JF van Heerden partner as the lock combination, with latest Springbok Cameron Hanekom shifting from No.8 to the openside flanker position and Cobus Wiese packing down at No.7, with Elrich Louw donning the No.8 jumper.

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Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrich Louw (captain), 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Sergeal Petersen, 23 Devon Williams.

Date: Saturday, December 21
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)