The Vodacom Bulls will host Munster in Pretoria at 13:00 (SA Time) and will be determined to replicate the result between themselves and Munster in the pool stages of the competition in a repeat of this encounter and stretch their winning run in the tournament to seven matches. The winner of this match will travel to face the Glasgow Warriors in a United Rugby Championship semi-final on Saturday, 06 June 2026.
However, they will be bracing themselves for an epic duel after coming away with a narrow 34-31 victory at Loftus Versfeld two months ago. With home ground advantage favouring the Vodacom Bulls and the team having finished the season one position higher than the fifth-placed Munster with far better attacking statistics, the hosts will enter the match as favourites.
However, Johan Ackermann’s team will be mindful of the fact that Munster’s defence has been more effective, and that the Irishmen will come out guns blazing with a semi-final spot at stake.
The men in blue will also draw comfort from the fact that Munster have suffered a few disappointing defeats on the road this season, but they managed to defeat Leinster in Dublin, which is sure to motivate them to register a surprise victory.
The Vodacom Bulls have made several significant changes to their match-day 23 with Johan Ackermann recalling experience and proven big-match performers for the knockout clash.
The most notable changes from the side that faced Benetton come in the backline, where Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the wing in place of Devon Williams, while Stravino Jacobs is promoted from the bench to the starting XV ahead of Sergeal Petersen. In the pack, captain Marcell Coetzee – back from illness – comes into the loose trio for Jeandre Rudolph, adding vast playoff and Test experience alongside Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw.
There is also a reshuffle in the second row, with Ruan Vermaak elevated from the replacements bench to partner Ruan Nortje, on the verge of 150 caps, while Cobus Wiese drops to the impact squad. Marco van Staden, another Springbok forward with a reputation for high-intensity knockout rugby, moves from the bench into the starting front-row replacement role as part of a six-two split among the substitutes.
The Vodacom Bulls have otherwise retained the spine of the side that defeated Benetton, including the influential halfback pairing of Embrose Papier and Handré Pollard, as well as veteran fullback Willie le Roux, whose game management and attacking vision will be central to the Pretoria side’s ambitions of reaching another semifinal.
The Munster team's only change is Alex Nankivell, who comes into the side in the only change from the team that beat the Lions two weeks ago to secure a fifth-place regular season finish in the URC.
Mike Haley, Andrew Smith and Shane Daly start in an unchanged back three with a midfield partnership of Seán O’Brien and Nankivell.
Captain Craig Casey and JJ Hanrahan continue their half-back partnership.
The forwards are unchanged with Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Michael Ala’alatoa packing down in the front row.
Tom Ahern and Evan O’Connell start in the engine room with a back row of Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Brian Gleeson completing the starting XV.
Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley and Conor Bartley provide the front row back-up with Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover. Fineen Wycherley is set for his 150th appearance for the province after missing out against the Lions due to injury.
Ben O’Donovan and Dan Kelly are the backline replacements.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen
Munster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Andrew Smith, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Seán O’Brien, 11 Shane Daly, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Craig Casey (captain), 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Evan O’Connell, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman. Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Conor Bartley, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 Alex Kendellen.