The Vodacom Bulls kick off the weekend action in Galway on Friday at 20:45 (SA Time), not the easiest of venues to travel to as the Vodacom Bulls found out back in October 2021, when they lost 7-34 to Connacht Rugby on their first visit to Dexcom Stadium.
Connacht arrive for this fixture having struggled recently in the VURC, with only two wins in their last eight matches, and both against Italian opposition. Despite this, the Irish province remains competitive at home, losing just once in their last four Championship games there, a 21-31 setback against Edinburgh last year.
The Bulls' last game against Connacht ended in a 28-14 win for the Vodacom Bulls, and they will be hoping to replicate that after last weekend’s defeat against Ulster.
The men from Pretoria will take some confidence with them, as Connacht have won only one of their last seven fixtures against South African opponents, by 36-30 over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Galway in September 2024.
Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Friday, which includes the return of all three British & Irish Lions, with Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham, and Mack Hansen all named in the starting XV. Aki and Bealham play in their usual inside centre and tighthead prop positions respectively, while Hansen lines out at full-back.
Cian Prendergast again captains the side and moves to openside flanker, with Josh Murphy on the opposite flank and Sean Jansen at number 8. Darragh Murray and David O’Connor make up the second row pairing, while prop Peter Dooley and hooker Dave Heffernan complete the forwards.
In the backs, scrum-half Caolin Blade and out-half Josh Ioane return, as does Byron Ralston at #13 to partner Aki. Completing the side are wingers Shayne Bolton and Chay Mullins.
There’s a 5:3 split on the bench with Connacht natives Matthew Devine, Cathal Forde and Sean Naughton covering the backline.
The Vodacom Bulls made 11 changes in the starting lineup, including captaincy and key positions like front row, locks, and backs. There are also six new inclusions on the bench, reflecting a strong rotation. Reinhardt Ludwig is now captain, and David Kriel vice-captain.
In summary, the front row sees Gerhard Steenekamp out, Alu Tshakweni in at loosehead prop; Johann Grobbelaar out, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels moved from the bench to hooker.
Among the locks, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg has been replaced by Ludwig, while the backrow changes see Marco van Staden and Mpilo Gumede moved, and JJ Theron and Nama Xaba introduced.
Paul de Wet and Keagan Johannes come in at halfback, with Harold Vorster replaced by Jan Serfontein in the centre, with Kriel back. Handre Pollard has returned to SA for personal family reasons.
Willie le Roux will start at fullback, and Canan Moodie will fill the right wing berth.
Teams:
Connacht Rugby: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Byron Ralson, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Cian Prendergast (c), 6 Josh Murphy, 5 David O’Connor, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Seán O’Brien, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Cathal Forde.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 JJ Theron, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Stravino Jacobs.