The Vodacom Bulls head to Cardiff today, hoping to get their first win in the 2021 United Rugby Championship, kick-off 20h35
Jake White’s men have endured a difficult start in the competition, suffering defeats to Leinster and Connacht to leave them bottom of the table heading into Round 3. It is an unfamiliar position for the Bulls, the defending Currie Cup champions and Rainbow Cup finalists.
The Bulls struggled most of the South African teams on the heavy Northern Hemisphere fields. As a result, they’ve mustered just 10 points in their two heavy defeats.
However, the side selected by the Vodacom Bulls for today's clash indicates a definite intention to run the ball from anywhere on the expected fast 4G pitch.
Standing off at rucks has proved to be counter-productive as well. The tactic has led to turnovers and the intended benefits on defence haven’t materialized, with the Pretoria side slipping a whopping 25 tackles in last Saturday’s 34-7 loss to Connacht. Change is needed and it’ll be interesting to see what Jake White conjures up.
Josh Navidi will make his first appearance of the season as Cardiff welcome Vodacom Bulls to the capital. The back row star, who returns to the line-up after featuring for the British and Irish Lions over the summer, slots into the number six jersey as one of five changes made following last week’s defeat to Ospreys.
Having featured in the opening two rounds of action from the bench, the Blue and Blacks bring Will Boyde onto the openside, with Dmitri Arhip also introduced into the pack.
Lloyd Williams is reinstated as the starting scrumhalf, swapping places with namesake Tomos, while Ben Thomas is drafted in at inside centre, having made his comeback from a groin injury in Swansea last week.
Owen Lane, who has three tries from two outings this season, forms the back three alongside Hallam Amos and Lion, Josh Adams.
Rhys Priestland and Samoan Rey Lee-Lo complete an all-international backline.
With club captain Josh Turnbull named on the bench, hooker Kirby Myhill takes over the leadership duties, while Seb Davies and Matthew Screech continue their partnership in the boiler room.
Director of rugby Dai Young said: “We’ll need to more than match their physicality and if we can do that while moving them about, I’m sure we can get the right result.
“But we don’t want to get locked into an arm-wrestle because they’re a big, powerful unit.
“I’m excited for it and I’m hoping that the local supporters come out to support it.
“It’s a first opportunity for them to look at a South African franchise. Everyone talks up Super Rugby so it’s nice for them to have the opportunity to see them at first hand.”
A total of seven internationals will be looking to make impact from the bench, including Tomos Williams and Willis Halaholo who impressed last time out at the Arms Park.
The clash is the first of three consecutive home URC matches at the Arms Park, with clashes against Cell C Sharks and Dragons also on the horizon.
The Vodacom Bulls have made a handful of changes to their side. Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has opted to make full use of the team’s rotation system ahead of the match that will be played at Cardiff Arms Park.
The Vodacom Bulls team will see five changes to the backline personnel, while four new faces will be seen from the forwards pack that was on duty last weekend against Connacht Rugby.
Fullback David Kriel, wingers Madosh Tambwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse make returns to the starting XV, while scrumhalf Ambrose Papier makes a welcomed return in the run-on team after having spent weeks recuperating from an injury ahead of the start of the Vodacom URC. Cornal Hendricks will shift from wing to the familiar outside centre position, where he will partner with Harold Vorster.
A new-look front row will see hooker Bismarck du Plessis linking up with props Simphiwe Matanzima and Jacques van Rooyen. Janko Swanepoel, at lock, and Jacques du Plessis, at blindside flanker, will both earn starting berths.
White, said: “We are making some changes to our match-day squad this week to ensure that we utilise our squad depth while giving fair opportunity to the players to get a feel of this competitive tournament.”
“Cardiff has shown good form so far this season in their win over Connacht at home, and, despite their narrow defeat, last week in the Welsh derby against Ospreys. We expect them to come out guns blazing, and we have no doubt that they will be a tough side to face,” added White.
Teams:
Cardiff Rugby: 15. Hallam Amos, 14. Owen Lane, 13. Rey Lee-Lo, 12. Ben Thomas, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Lloyd Williams, 8. James Ratti, 7. Will Boyde, 6. Josh Navidi, 5. Matthew Screech, 4. Seb Davies, 3. Dmitri Arhip, 2. Kirby Myhill, 1. Rhys Carré. Replacements: 16. Kristian Dacey, 17. Corey Domachowski, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Rory Thornton, 20. Josh Turnbull, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Willis Halaholo, 23. Matthew Morgan.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Cornal Hendricks, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Embrose Papier, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Jacques du Plessis, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Janko Steenkamp, 3. Jacques van Rooyen, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Robert Hunt, 19. Walt Steenkamp, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Lionel Mapoe.