The Vodacom Bulls will get this weekend's URC action underway on Friday when they welcome Glasgow Warriors to Pretoria (19h00) in their last home match of the season.
The South African franchises will be desperate for one last big shove as they wrap up their home run in the league phase of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this weekend, with three of the four sides looking to give themselves the best possible chance to secure favourable quarter-final spots.
The Vodacom Bulls will look to kick on from their convincing win against Benetton last week when they meet the sixth-placed Glasgow at their fortress Loftus Versfeld, where a win would see them earn their sixth victory in seven outings.
They will, however, go up against a determined Scottish outfit who are equally resolute to remain in the top eight for a quarter-final spot and who will want to avoid a possible fourth straight away defeat in the competition for the first time since 2018.
James Verity-Amm will earn a starting berth for the Vodacom Bulls.
The Vodacom Bulls have made four changes to their backline for the clash in addition to a solitary personnel change in the forwards' pack.
Verity-Amm, who has shown some fine form for the Tshwane-based side in the domestic Carling Currie Cup, has received an opportunity to start on the right-wing this weekend.
The young and talented Canan Moodie, who has proven himself as a solid outside back who featured on the wing so far this season, will show his versatility when he starts at fullback.
The Vodacom Bulls will also have a changed half-back pairing which will see Zak Burger combining with the experienced Morne Steyn.
Hard man, Arno Botha, makes a return to the starting XV where he will do the No7 jersey.
A strong bench will see the return of Harold Vorster to action after missing last weekend’s game against Benetton Rugby, while Cyle Brink will be providing loose-forward cover.
“We have a tough task ahead of us this Friday,” said Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White.
“Despite their defeat to the DHL Stormers last week, Glasgow Warriors are a formidable side that we expect will bring a huge challenge for us. They are a well-coached group with a number of highly talented internationals in their squad.
“We will need to be alert and be at our best for the entire 80 minutes.”
Captain Ryan Wilson returns to the Glasgow Warriors starting XV.
The captain’s inclusion is one of seven changes to the team that ran out in Cape Town last weekend, with the Warriors knowing that a win of any kind will secure them a place in the URC knockout stages.
Two of the seven changes come in the front row, as Jamie Bhatti and George Turner come into the starting lineup to join Zander Fagerson to form an all-Scotland combination up front.
Rob Harley is similarly promoted from the replacements to start at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow, the club’s all-time record holder for appearances pairing up with Richie Gray in the second row.
Wilson’s inclusion is the only further alteration to the pack, coming into a back-row completed by openside Rory Darge and last weekend’s try-scorer Jack Dempsey.
Behind the scrum, Ali Price continues at scrum-half, with Duncan Weir joining his fellow Scotland international in the half-backs.
Stafford McDowall is the only other player to come into the starting XV having completely missed out on the clash with the DHL Stormers, as he starts at inside centre alongside Sione Tuipulotu in the midfield.
Cole Forbes replaces the injured Kyle Steyn on the wing, with the back three completed by the duo of Josh McKay and Ollie Smith.
The replacements see Fraser Brown join McDowall and Wilson in coming into the matchday 23 having missed out last weekend, as the club co-captain joins Simon Berghan and Oli Kebble as the front-row cover.
Kiran McDonald rotates to the bench after starting last time out, whilst Thomas Gordon continues in the number 20 jersey.
Jamie Dobie is another to retain his place amongst the replacements, with fellow international half-back Ross Thompson joining him on the bench.
The squad is rounded out by Sam Johnson, the Scotland centre covering the outside backs in the number 23 jersey.
Speaking following selection, Head Coach Wilson told glasgowwarriors.org: “After a physical encounter with the Stormers last weekend, we’re looking forward to another challenging test against the Bulls tomorrow night.
“We’re pleased to welcome back the experience of club co-captains Ryan Wilson and Fraser Brown.
“The Bulls are a physical side who have been very good at home and we’ll need to be at our best when we take them on tomorrow night in Pretoria.”
Weather: 19° with 9kn/h NW wind, partly cloudy with 52% humidity with limited (4%) chance of rain.
Prediction: Vodacom Bulls by 12.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Canan Moodie, 14. James Verity-Amm, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Arno Botha, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Dylan Smith, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Cyle Brink, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Harold Vorster.
Glasgow Warriors: 15. Ollie Smith, 14. Josh McKay, 13. Sione Tuipulotu, 12. Stafford McDowall, 11. Cole Forbes, 10. Duncan Weir, 9. Ali Price, 8. Jack Dempsey, 7. Rory Darge, 6. Ryan Wilson (c), 5. Richie Gray, 4. Rob Harley, 3. Zander Fagerson, 2. George Turner, 1. Jamie Bhatti. Replacements: 16. Fraser Brown, 17. Oli Kebble, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Kiran McDonald, 20. Thomas Gordon, 21. Jamie Dobie, 22. Ross Thompson, 23. Sam Johnson.