The Vodacom Bulls welcome back a key Springbok for Saturday’s URC match against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.
Canan Moodie, who featured in last week’s warm-up game against Boland after recovering from a concussion suffered against the Stormers in early January, will start in midfield alongside Harold Vorster. They will be up against Springbok André Esterhuizen and the explosive Jurenzo Julius.
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A rejigged backline also sees David Kriel take over the No 15 jersey from Devon Williams with Sebastian de Klerk and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings.
Up front, Jan-Hendrik Wessels shifts from loosehead prop to hooker, with Alulutho Tshakweni wearing the No 1 jersey. Morné Smith starts at tighthead, with Wilco Louw moving to the bench.
Springbok Ruan Nortjé returns to partner Ruan Vermaak in the second row, while Nizaam Carr starts at No 8 with captain Marcell Coetzee and Elrigh Louw on the flanks.
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Louw is joined on the bench by fellow Springboks Marco van Staden and Willie le Roux.
Akker van der Merwe, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Sintu Manjezi and Cameron Hanekom were all unavailable for selection.
BULLS – 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Morné Smith, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
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