Vodacom Bulls utility front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels will make his return from a nine-week ban in Saturday’s Vodacom URC match against the Sharks in Durban.
The 24-year-old prop was controversially suspended for allegedly grabbing Connacht flank Josh Murphy’s testicles during a URC clash in October despite a lack of video evidence. It ruled him out of the Boks’ five-match end-of-year tour.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has made 11 changes to the starting XV that lost 50-5 to the Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup last weekend.
Willie le Roux slots in at fullback, Handre Pollard returns at flyhalf and Embrose Papier takes over at scrumhalf. David Kriel and Sebastian de Klerk are recalled to the midfield and wing respectively, adding experience and strike power alongside Harold Vorster and Stravino Jacobs.
Up front, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw form a heavyweight front row, while Jeandre Rudolph comes in at blindside flank. Elrigh Louw captains the side from No 8, with JJ Theron completing the loose trio.
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However, the Bulls will be without Springbok lock Ruan Nortje, flank Marco van Staden and utility back Canan Moodie, who are being rested as per national team protocols, although Ackermann confirmed that Van Staden is still recovering from a knee injury suffered against Bordeaux Bègles.
Akker van der Merwe, Wessels, Reinhardt Ludwig, and Devon Williams join Nizaam Carr, Paul de Wet and Stedman Gans on the bench.
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The Bulls are currently eighth on the URC log and on a four-match losing streak in all competitions.
BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams.
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
