Bulls shuffle their playmakers for Scarlets clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have revealed their matchday squad for their Round 13 United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday.
Playmakers Chris Smith and Johan Goosen will both start, with Stravino Jacobs and Jan-Hendrick Wessels returning to the matchday 23.
Ruan Nortje (lock) returns to lead the side which sees Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar and Mornay Smith combine as the front-row trio, with Ruan Vermaak joining his skipper in the second row.
The back row will have Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink and Elrigh Louw adding power to the forwards pack.
In the backline, Springbok duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie have been given rest which sees Stravino Jacobs return to left wing whilst Goosen slots in at fullback with Zak burger at scrumhalf.
Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe combine as the centre pairing with David Kriel slotting in at right wing.
The Pretoria outfit will have Jan-Hendrick Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Cornal Hendricks and Wandisile Simelane ready to come on from the bench.
This will be the second time the two sides meet and the Welsh side are looking to bounce back from back-to-back league defeats while the visiting Bulls will be looking to make it two wins from two in the competition.
Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 David Kriel, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Cornal Hendricks, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Friday, January 27
Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 19.35 (19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
