Vodacom Bulls utility back, Henry Immelman will make his long-awaited debut for the Tshwane-based outfit when they run out in round 2 of the 2023/24 Investec Champions Cup at the Matmut Stadium, southeast of Paris in Lyon. Immelman will run out at the right wing when they visit Lyon on Saturday 16 December 2023, at 19:30 (South African Time).
Henry will partner up with Sergeal Petersen who will be on the left (wing) side of the field with Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe combining as the centre pairing of the day. Vorster returns to full-match fitness since being side-lined by a foot niggle two months ago and he starts at inside centre. Behind will be Devon Williams who starts at fullback having consistently impressed since joining the Vodacom Bulls.
Zak Burger starts at scrum half with Chris Smith lacing up at fly-half as the half-back duo links the backline to a forward pack that will feature Simphiwe Matanzima, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Mornay Smith at the front row.
Vodacom Bulls: 1. Simphiwe Matanzima, 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 3. Mornay Smith, 4. Deon Slabbert, 5. Janko Swanepoel, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Mpilo Gumede, 8. Marcell Coetzee (c), 9. Zak Burger, 10. Chris Smith, 11. Sergeal Petersen, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 14. Henry Immelman, 15. Devon Williams. Replacements: 16. Tiaan Lange, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. JF van Heerden, 20. Merwe Olivier, 21. Bernard van der Linde, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Sebastian de Klerk.
