The Vodacom Bulls travel to France to take on Section Paloise (Pau) at the Stade du Hameau on Friday in a pivotal Round 4 fixture of the Investec Champions Cup. With both sides vying for the final playoff berth in Pool 4, this encounter is a straight shootout for knockout qualification.
Bordeaux (15 points), Bristol (14), and Northampton Saints (11) have already secured their spots in the last 16. That leaves Pau (5 points), Scarlets (2), and Bulls (2) scrambling for the fourth and final playoff position. The team finishing fifth will drop down to the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The Bulls, currently bottom of the pool and enduring a seven-match losing streak across all competitions, including three Champions Cup defeats, need nothing less than a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. A bonus point could be enough to secure a spot in the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs. Pau, meanwhile, comes into the fixture on the back of their first win of the campaign, a 47-38 triumph over Scarlets, and will be buoyed by home advantage.
While the Bulls and Pau battle it out on Friday, the Scarlets face a daunting trip to Northampton on Sunday. Given recent form, the Welsh side is expected to finish last, while the Saints aim for a home playoff.
Johan Ackermann has named a strong touring squad, with fewer than 15 Springboks included for this crucial trip. Notably, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie return after concussion protocols, while Cheswill Jooste is also available.
Bulls Squad for Pau:
Props: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Alulutho Tshakweni, Sti Sithole, Wilco Louw, Mornay Smith, Francois Klopper
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Akker van der Merwe
Locks: Cobus Wiese, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje, Reinhardt Ludwig
Loose Forwards: Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw, Mpilo Gumede, Jeandre Rudolph, Nizaam Carr
Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier, Zak Burger
Flyhalves: Handre Pollard, Keagan Johannes
Back Three: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Stravino Jacobs, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, Willie le Roux, Devon Williams
Midfield: Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans