The Bulls are still smarting from last week’s heavy loss to Ulster in Belfast in a game that saw Handre Pollard make his highly-anticipated return to the team from Pretoria.
Coach Johan Ackermann has made 11 changes to his starting lineup for Friday night’s URC clash with Connacht in Galway, some of which were enforced, such as the unavailability of Pollard.
In exciting news for the Pollard family, he has returned to South Africa for the birth of his second child, a daughter.
In all, there are 11 changes in the starting lineup, including captaincy and key positions like front
row, locks, and backs. There are also six new inclusions on the bench, reflecting a strong rotation.
Leadership changes, too, with Reinhardt Ludwig now captain and David Kriel vice-captain.
Bulls shake it up as Handre Pollard heads home
In summary, the front row sees Gerhard Steenekamp out, Alu Tshakweni in at loosehead prop;
Johann Grobbelaar out, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels moved from the bench to hooker.
Among the locks Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg has been replaced by Ludwig, while the back row
changes see Marco van Staden and Mpilo Gumede moved, and JJ Theron and Nama Xaba
introduced.
Paul de Wet and Keagan Johannes come in at halfback with Harold Vorster replaced by Jan
Serfontein in the centre, with Kriel back. Handre Pollard has returned to SA for personal family
reasons.
Willie le Roux will start at fullback and Canan Moodie will fill the right wing berth.
Meanwhile, Marco van Staden misses Friday night’s showdown due to a light knee hematoma.
“He took a knock to the knee [in the loss to Ulster] which turned out to be a ‘lammie’, but it looks like he’ll be back again next week should we need him to play. But we’ve said from the beginning that he’d be returning to the Springboks after two weeks with us,” Ackermann commented.
“Marcell [Coetzee] has recovered from his concussion, so he’ll join us next week and we’ll have him available.”
HOW THE TEAM LINES UP
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Dawid Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 JJ Theron, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
