The Vodacom Bulls will be favourites when they host an erratic French team in Lyon Olympique Universitaire on Saturday at 13:30 (SA Time).
The Vodacom Bulls will enter their match against Lyon with confidence as they remain unbeaten at home this season in both the Investec Champions Cup and Vodacom United Rugby Championship, while they will also draw inspiration from the fact that they finished the pool stages ranked second after winning three of their four pool matches, one spot in front of their French rivals, who were third on the table.
Adding to this, the Pretoria outfit has had a strong Vodacom URC season, winning nine of their 13 matches while Lyon has battled to make their presence felt in the French Top 14, where they are currently ranked third-last on the log after nine victories in 20 matches so far this season.
Lyon, however, will draw motivation from the fact that they edged the Pretoria outfit 29-28 in France in what marked the Vodacom Bulls’ only defeat in the Investec Champions Cup this season, and the close nature of that match combined with the high stakes will set the scene for a humdinger of a clash.
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White made three changes to the Vodacom Bulls lineup to face Lyon in a Champions Cup playoff in Pretoria on Saturday at 13:30.
Vodacom Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee shifts from No 8 to openside flank, with youngster Reinhardt Ludwig promoted to the starting lineup at blindside flank.
There are two further changes to the team as hooker Johan Grobbelaar switches with Akker van der Merwe, while the only change in the backline sees Sebastian de Klerk replace Devon Williams on the wing.
Teams
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Devon Williams.
Lyon Olympique Universitair: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Xavier Mignot, 13 Alfred Parisien, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Jordan Taufua (c), 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Marvin Okuya, 5 Loann Goujon, 4 Theo William, 3 Paulo Tafili, 2 Guillaume Marchand, 1 Vivien Devisme. Replacements: 16 Yanis Charcosset, 17 Demba Bamba, 18 Mickael Guillard, 19 Ave Maalo, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Maxime Gouzou, 22 Ethan Dumortier, 23 Liam Rimet.
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