Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White continues to test combinations and positions, with Ruan Nortje shifting to blindside flank opening up space for lock Janko Swanepoel to start in the engine room against the Cell C Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday, 12 June 2021.
Nortje's move to the side of the scrum is a result of the injury to Elrigh Louw, while Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee takes over the captaincy and no.8 jumper from the injured Duane Vermeulen, with Marco van Staden covering openside flank against their Durban based opposition.
The rest of the starting line-up remains unchanged.
Springbok Nizaam Carr and Junior Springbok Muller Uys have received call ups to take the places of Swanepoel and Van Staden on the bench respectively.
The trip to Durban marks the end of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA regular season, with the Vodacom Bulls going into the game in pole position to contest the North vs South final. The Bulls will be looking to go all out in retaining the top spot, as the Pretoria franchise shifts a gear going into a knockout rugby mindset.
"We have approached this match as if it were a semi-final. Nothing less than a win is good enough. The boys need no further motivation and despite a few injuries, come Saturday we will be focused and determined to execute our plan," said White.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel (Betway Centurion), 14. Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria), 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria), 12. Cornal Hendricks (Northam), 11. Stravino Jacobs (Harlequins), 10. Morné Steyn (Tuine), 9. Ivan van Zyl (Tuine), 8. Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle - C) 7. Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle) 6. Marco van Staden (Pretoria) 5. Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria) 4. Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion) 3. Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion) 2. Johan Grobbelaar (Tukkies) 1. Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle). Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus (Tuine), 17. Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine), 18. Trevor Nyakane (Harlequins), 19. Nizaam Carr (Betway Centurion), 20. Muller Uys (Tukkies), 21. Keagan Johannes (Tukkies), 22. Clinton Swart (Tukkies), 23. Gio Aplon (Betway Centurion), 24. Robert Hunt (Harlequins), 25. Jan Uys (Pretoria), 26. Dawid Kellerman (Pretoria), 27. Richard Kriel (Tuine)