Pollard benched as Bulls spring surprise at flyhalf
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann made several changes to his side that will face Zebre in Round 17 of the United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The most notable change occurs in the backline, where Willie le Roux moves from the bench to start at flyhalf, replacing Handre Pollard, who shifts to the replacements bench.
In the back three, the Bulls introduce fresh firepower with Kurt-Lee Arendse returning at fullback and Cheswill Jooste earning a start on the wing, while Canan Moodie shifts from the wing to outside centre.
In the pack, the front row sees a complete overhaul from the Dragons fixture.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden move from the bench into the starting XV at loosehead and hooker respectively, joined by Wilco Louw at tighthead.
Beyond the front-row changes, JF van Heerden earns a start in the second row, replacing Ruan Nortje, while Ruan Vermaak moves into the starting lock position.
Captain Marcell Coetzee remains a fixture but shifts to the blindside, making room for Jeandre Rudolph to start at openside. Cameron Hanekom retains his spot at No.8.
A fresh pairing of Paul de Wet and Willie le Roux will direct play, with the previous starting duo of Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard providing experience from the bench.
Papier is thus poised to play his 170th match, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen as the most capped scrumhalf of all time for the Bulls.
In the midfield, Harold Vorster maintains his continuity at inside centre, now partnered by Canan Moodie in a dynamic new-look midfield combination.
The bench for this weekend features several players who started against the Dragons, including the formidable front-row trio of Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Francois Klopper.
They are joined by Cobus Wiese, who moves to the bench to provide second-row cover, ensuring the Bulls maintain significant physical presence in the latter stages of the match.
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jeandre Rudolph, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Marco van Staden, 1 Jan Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Stedman Gans
Date: Saturday, May 9
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 13.45 SAST (11.35 GMT)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa) and Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wales)
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