Pollard back in blue as Ackermann makes sweeping changes

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: As expected, Bulls coach Johan Ackermann wasted no time in calling up eight Springboks for Round Three of the United Rugby Championship clash with Ulster on Saturday.

Among the most significant is a start for Handre Pollard, now back in blue after several seasons in the UK.

In his previous stint in Pretoria, he played over 70 matches for the Bulls, attaining hero status in the capital.

In all, there are 11 changes – seven in the starting 15 and four on the bench – from last week’s squad that beat champions Leinster in Pretoria. Several are forced by injuries, chiefly to Marcell Coetzee and JF van Heerden.

The seven changes to the line-up are Wilco Louw (for Mornay Smith), Cobus Wiese (for JF van Heerden), Marco Staden (for Marcell Coetzee), Jeandre Rudolph (for JJ Theron), Zak Burger (for Embrose Papier), Handre Pollard (for Keagan Johannes), and Canan Moodie (for David Kriel).

Similarly, the bench has been shaken up: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (for Alulutho Tshakweni), Reinhardt Ludwig (for Sintu Manjezi), Paul de Wet (for Zak Burger, moved to start), and David Kriel (for Stedman Gans).

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Nicolaas Janse v Rensburg, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar (captain), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 David Kriel, 23 Willie le Roux

Date: Saturday, October 11
Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: 19.45 (20.45 SA Time; 18.45 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland) & Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)