The Vodacom Bulls will have everything to play for with a home quarter-final at stake in their match against Benetton at Loftus Versfeld at 16:00 (SA Time), and even a possible top two finish if the DHL Stormers and Leinster slip up and they register a bonus-point victory.
There is no doubt that the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ dismantling of the Italians last week will give the men from Pretoria extra confidence going into the match.
The Vodacom Bulls, nine log positions above their visitors and having scored an impressive 521 points to 308 by Benetton, while they also boast a better defensive record, will be determined to finish the pool stages with an impressive six wins in a row and build the momentum and confidence they need going into the playoffs.
For the Vodacom Bulls’ final VURC pool clash, the matchday squad features a significant strategic reshuffle that sees several heavy hitters return to the starting XV.
The most notable change up front is a complete rotation of the starting props. Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar move from the bench to the starting lineup, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden providing cover as finishers this week.
In the second row, the leadership group receives a massive boost as Ruan Nortje returns to partner Cobus Wiese, shifting Ruan Vermaak to the bench. The back row also sees a physical upgrade with Elrigh Louw slotting in at flank, with Jeandre Rudolph replacing Marcell Coetzee, laid low by illness.
In the halfbacks, the Vodacom Bulls have opted for the established pairing of Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard to direct play from the start, moving Paul de Wet to the replacement bench. While the midfield remains stable with the partnership of Harold Vorster and Canan Moodie, there is an adjustment in the back three: Kurt-Lee Arendse failed a late fitness test, to be replaced by Devon Williams, who shifts to the right wing to accommodate Sergeal Petersen on the left, while the veteran Willie le Roux continues to anchor the side from fullback.
The bench sees the inclusion of Devon Williams as the primary utility back cover at number 23, replacing injured Cheswill Jooste from last week’s roster. With the likes of Marco Van Staden, Vermaak, and Stedman Gans waiting in the wings, the Vodacom Bulls have maintained a high-velocity bench designed to maintain intensity during the crucial closing stages at Loftus Versfeld.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Devon Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Peterson, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Tomas Medina, 11 Federico Zanandrea, 10 Rhyno Smith, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Lorenzo Cannone, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza (c), 4 Mattia Midena, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Giulio Marini, 21 Jadin Kingi, 22 Cristiano Tizzano, 23 Leonardo Marin.