Jake drops captaincy bombshell for final tour match

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has made several surprise selections ahead of his team’s final match of their European tour.

The Bulls face defending champions Glasgow Warriors in a United Rugby Championship[ Round 16 match on Friday.

The most significant of the changes are the loose forwards.

Captain Ruan Nortje moves from lock to flank in a new combination that sees Marco van Staden returning at No.8 and Jannes Kirsten on the other flank.

Cameron Hanekom drops out of the matchday 23, and Marcell Coetzee is on the bench.

Johann Grobbelaar starts at hooker and Akker van der Merwe drops down to the bench.

Sebastian de Klerk and Canan Moodie swap jerseys, but stay on the wings.

Also back and featuring on the bench is Willie le Roux.

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explained his reasoning for why last weekend’s Player of the Match, Marcell Coetzee, is on the bench and Ruan Nortje is wearing the No.7 jersey.

“Willie [le Roux] had an operation, and he probably could’ve joined us a week earlier, White said.

“Marco went home for the birth of his second child.

“It was never a case of him not coming back, it was just whether or not there were complications or whatever.

“Marcell [Coetzee] had knee issues for years.

“Switching between synthetic, grass, and 4G pitches has an impact on his knees. He could’ve quite easily started at No.8 and Marco van Staden at blindside flanker.

“It allows us to rotate and put some new combinations together.

“I have said before I’d like to see Ruan Nortje at No.7, and as much as it might or might not have been pre-planned, it provided me an opportunity to take a look at that [loose forward] combination.

“It gives Marcell Coetzee a bit of a breather in terms of his knee, and it also allows blooding a youngster in Jacobus Grobler, who is a SA Under 20 lock.

“It allows him to come into the squad and see what it’s like.

“It’s his first game with this group, and it will be fantastic for him to be part of a team like we’ve got on the field.”

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Ruan Nortje (captain), 6 Jannes Kirsten, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jacobus Grobler, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Stedman Gans.

Date: Friday, April 25
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19.35 (20.35 SA time; 18.35 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)