Bulls send young guns in to battle Glasgow veterans
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named a very young front row to face off against a grizzled Glasgow Warriors at the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 21, will make his first United Rugby Championship start.
The young prop – who has played in three opening games of the season – will be propped-up by Gerhard Steenekamp and 23-year-old Francois Klopper, who will make his second start of the season, completing the front row.
Steenekamp, at 25, is the ‘senior’ partner in a very raw front row.
The Pretoria outfit go into the encounter sitting in second place on the URC standings – winning all three their matches.
Victory in Glasgow could cement the team’s place at the top for another week.
The formidable pairing of Ruan Nortjé and Walt Steenkamp continues to be the engine room of the side this week.
Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw and captain Marcell Coetzee combine in a very formidable loose forward combination.
Lionel Mapoe starts at outside centre with David Kriel on the inside in the midfield.
Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans will be bringing speed at left and right wing, whilst Springbok Kurt-lee Arendse will serve the team at fullback.
The team will also have the opportunity to call on the experienced Bismarck Du Plessis and Morné Steyn off the bench, with super-sub, Simphiwe Matanzima ready to enforce his impact in the game with fresh legs off the bench.
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stedman Gans, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Marco Van Staden, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Reinhardt Ludwig, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Saturday, October 8
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Jan-Hendri
Kick-off: 19.35 (20.35 SA Time; 18.35 GMT))
Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland) & Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)
