The Vodacom Bulls have welcomed back the services of Johan Goosen and Nizaam Carr for round 4 of the 2023 Currie Cup campaign. The Pretoria outfit travels to the Down Touch Investments Stadium, where they will take on the Novavit Griffons on Friday afternoon at 15:00 (SA Time).
Flyhalf, Goosen was sidelined due to shoulder surgery whilst Carr (flanker) nursed a hamstring niggle. The pair are the only two changes made by coach, Edgar Marutlulle to the starting XV that did duty against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, a week ago.
Carr will line up alongside Phumzile Maqondwana and Muller Uys in the back row, in an otherwise unchanged forwards pack that includes captain Lizo Gqoboka, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Robert Hunt, Jacques Du Plessis and Reinhardt Ludwig. Goosen will join Keagan Johannes to combine as the two halfbacks in Welkom whilst Lionel Mapoe and Wandisile Simelane combine at centre. Kabelo Mokoena (left) and Quewin Nortje (right) will burn the gas burners from the wing with Franco Knoetze serving at fullback.
On the bench, Jacques van Rooyen and Simphiwe Matanzima have swapped locations, as van Rooyen joins the European squad with Matanzima reuniting with the South African camp, for family reasons. Debutant, JP Alberts from the World Sports Betting Carlton League club, Wolverines, will lace up in his first senior men’s appearance from the bench, alongside Adriaan Joubert, who is the second and only change made to the bench.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Franco Knoetze, 14. Quewin Nortje, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Lionel Mapoe, 11. Kabelo Mokoena, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Keagan Johannes, 8. Muller Uys, 7. Nizaam Carr, 6. Phumzile Maqondwana, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 4. Jacques du Plessis, 3. Robert Hunt, 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1. Lizo Gqoboka (c). Replacement: 16. Simphiwe Matanzima, 17. Joe van Zyl, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. JP Alberts, 20. Mihhali Mosi, 21. Bernard van der Linde, 22. Chris Smit, 23. Adriaan Joubert.
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