The seventh-placed Vodacom Bulls host last-placed Zebre Parma in a Vodacom Champions Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday at 13:45 (SA Time).
The Vodacom Bulls (49 points), who are on a hot four-match winning streak and trail Leinster by only four points, will look to capitalise on their home ground advantage at Loftus Versfeld against Zebre Parma, who won only two of their 16 pool matches.
However, Johan Ackermann’s charges will definitely not underestimate the visitors, who have put up brave fights against some of the top sides in the competition and who will want to make up for suffering heartbreaking defeats in their last two matches.
Adding to the Vodacom Bulls’ confidence, they will be playing at altitude at their fortress, and boast prominent advantages in their attack and defence over the opposition, but with the pressure of having to deliver two good results in the next two rounds to force their way into the top four, they need to be sharp and effective all around to achieve that feat and hope that a few other results go their way.
The Vodacom Bulls have significantly reshaped their matchday 23. The most notable change occurs in the backline, where Willie le Roux moves from the bench to start at flyhalf, replacing Handre Pollard, who shifts to the replacements. In the back three, the Vodacom Bulls introduce fresh firepower with Kurt-Lee Arendse returning at fullback and Cheswill Jooste earning a start on the wing, while Canan Moodie shifts from the wing to outside centre.
In the pack, the front row sees a complete overhaul from the Dragons fixture. Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden move from the bench into the starting XV at loosehead and hooker respectively, joined by the powerful Wilco Louw at tighthead.
Beyond the front-row changes, JF van Heerden earns a start in the second row, replacing Ruan Nortje, while Ruan Vermaak moves into the starting lock position.
Captain Marcell Coetzee remains a fixture but shifts to the blindside, making room for Jeandre Rudolph to start at openside. Cameron Hanekom retains his spot at No 8.
A fresh pairing of Paul de Wet and Willie le Roux will direct play, with the previous starting duo of Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard providing experience from the bench. Papier is thus poised to play his 170th match, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen as the most capped scrumhalf of all time for the Vodacom Bulls.
In the midfield, Harold Vorster maintains his continuity at inside centre, now partnered by Canan Moodie in a dynamic new-look midfield combination.
The bench for this weekend features several players who started against the Dragons, including the formidable front-row trio of Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Francois Klopper. They are joined by Cobus Wiese, who moves to the bench to provide second-row cover, ensuring the Bulls maintain significant physical presence in the latter stages of the match.
Teams
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jeandre Rudolph, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Marco van Staden, 1 Jan Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Stedman Gans
Zebre Parma: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Martin Roger Farias, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Giovanni Licata (c), 7 Davide Odiase, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Franco Carrera, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Paolo Buonfiglio. Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Samuele Locatelli, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Migael Prinsloo.