Springboks duo give Bulls late boost for All Blacks clash at Loftus

The Bulls have been bolstered by the late release of two Springboks as they prepare to host the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the third match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

Hooker Johan Grobbelaar and loose forward Elrigh Louw have been released by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus to gain valuable game time and will start on the Bulls bench after joining Johan Ackermann’s squad late in the week.

The pair have had just one training session with the Bulls, but Ackermann welcomed their inclusion.

“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Ackermann said.

Their arrival means hooker Jaundre Schoeman and loose forward Mpilo Gumede drop out of the match-day 23.

Captain Marcell Coetzee leads a Bulls side featuring four other Springboks, while veteran fullback Willie le Roux brings a wealth of experience to the backline.

There is also a welcome return for loose forward Hanro Liebenberg, who is back on South African soil after a productive stint with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.

Much of the interest, however, will centre on flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who joined the Sharks straight out of school in Gqeberha before spending the past two years in France with Brive.

The 29-year-old has returned to South Africa to join the Bulls and will start at No 10 on Saturday.

Bosch will be joined in the starting XV by two standout performers from the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship campaign, scrumhalf Embrose Papier and loose forward Jeandré Rudolph. Both will be central to the Bulls’ hopes of playing with tempo and ambition against the touring New Zealand side.

The match kicks off at 7pm on Saturday.

Bulls team to play New Zealand

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (capt), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.