Handré Pollard starts at flyhalf as the Vodacom Bulls welcome Benetton to Loftus for their final Vodacom URC league match on Saturday.
After making an impact off the bench in last week’s win over Zebre Parma, Pollard is restored to the No 10 jersey with Willie le Roux shifting to fullback.
Ruan Nortjé returns to the second row after missing the emphatic 54-19 victory, partnering Cobus Wiese and reclaiming the captaincy.
Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar are promoted from the bench to start alongside Wilco Louw in the front row.
In the loose trio, Elrigh Louw returns at blindside flank, joining Jeandré Rudolph and Cameron Hanekom.
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The halfback pairing of Embrose Papier and Pollard reunites, while the midfield combination of Harold Vorster and Canan Moodie remains unchanged.
There is one enforced change in the back three after Kurt-Lee Arendse failed a late fitness test. Devon Williams comes into the starting side on the right wing, with Sergeal Petersen shifting to the left.
The Bulls have also named a powerful bench featuring Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ruan Vermaak and Stedman Gans.
Victory for Johan Ackermann’s men would guarantee a home quarter-final and complete a strong recovery after a mid-season collapse.
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BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Devon Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 Ruan Nortjé (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The post Pollard back at 10 as Nortjé returns to lead Bulls appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
