The Bulls have shuffled their deck for Saturday’s key United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld against the Sharks, making several tactical changes to the team that started against the Lions last month.
The most significant shift occurs in the back three. David Kriel moves from the bench to take over the fullback jersey from Devon Williams. He is joined by a new-look wing pairing in Sebastian de Klerk and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
While the halfback pairing of Embrose Papier and Handré Pollard remains from the big victory at Ellis Park, the midfield sees Harold Vorster retain his spot, though he now partners with the returning Canan Moodie as Stedman Gans drops out of the match-day squad.
Up front, coach Johan Ackermann has also opted for rotation. Jan-Hendrik Wessels shifts from loosehead prop to hooker, making room for Alulutho Tshakweni to start at loosehead. Mornay Smith also moves into the starting line-up at tighthead, swapping roles with Wilco Louw, who provides cover from the bench this week.
The second row sees Ruan Nortjé return to partner Ruan Vermaak, replacing Reinhardt Ludwig. In the loose trio, Nizaam Carr earns a start at No. 8, with Jeandré Rudolph moving to the bench. Captain Marcell Coetzee and Elrigh Louw continue their hard-hitting partnership on the flanks.
The replacements’ bench features heavy international experience and versatility. Willie le Roux and Paul de Wet provide specialist cover for the backline, while Stravino Jacobs moves to the impact role after starting last month. Marco van Staden and Cobus Wiese remain the go-to options for forward reinforcements, ensuring the Bulls maintain their physical intensity in the closing stages.
Bulls team for Sharks
(In brackets are the schools that produced the players, as part of the URC’s “Origin Round”).
15 David Kriel (Grey Bloem), 14 Sebastian de Klerk (Boland Landbou), 13 Canan Moodie (Boland Landbou), 12 Harold Vorster (Frans du Toit, Phalaborwa), 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Paulus Joubert), 10 Handre Pollard (Paarl Gym), 9 Embrose Papier (Garsfontein); 1 AluluthoTshakweni (Hudson Park High School), 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels (Grey Bloem), 3 Morne Smith (Eldoraigne), 4 Ruan Vermaak (Monument), 5 Ruan Nortje (Wonderboom), 6 Marcell Coetzee (Captain) (Port Natal), 7 Elrich Louw (Transvalia), 8 Nizaam Carr (Bishops).
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden (Bekker Landbou), 17 Sti Sithole (Westville), 18 Wilco Louw (HTS Drostdy), 19 Cobus Wiese (Upington), 20 Jeandre Rudolph (Oakdale), 21 Paul de Wet (Paarl Boys High), 22 Willie le Roux (Paul Roos), 23 Stravino Jacobs (Paarl Gym).
