The Vodacom Bulls will be looking to build on their second-half performance against the Ospreys last weekend when they welcome Leinster to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday at 18:30 (SA Time).
The hosts’ only defeat in their last 10 Vodacom URC matches was by 32-7 to the Irish giants in the Grand Final at Dublin’s Croke Park last year, but the men from Pretoria are on a seven-match win streak at Loftus Versfeld and will also take confidence from the DHL Stormers’ big win against Leinster last weekend.
It was the second time in the history of the competition that Leinster failed to score a point in a match; the last time was in September 2008 when they lost 18-0 to Munster.
Amazingly enough, Leinster have won only twice in South Africa since November 2018, in April 2023 by 39-36 over the Lions in Johannesburg, and by 10-7 over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban last March.
The two sides have met on seven previous occasions, with the Vodacom Bulls having the edge by four wins to three. Leinster have also never won at Loftus Versfeld.
The Vodacom Bulls have lost two of their best early-season performers in Jan Serfontein and Cheswill Jooste, both of whom succumbed to injury, shoulder and hamstring, respectively, during last weekend’s VURC season-opener against the Ospreys.
Serfontein’s place is taken by experienced Harold Vorster, while Sebastian de Klerk shifts to the right wing to accommodate Stravino Jacobs on the left.
Following Cobus Wiese’s HIA last weekend, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg starts this Saturday, with Sintu Manjezi earning a place on the bench.
Leinster made seven changes to the starting XV from last week’s defeat to DHL Stormers, including the introduction of British and Irish Lion Thomas Clarkson for the first time this season. Clarkson will pack down on the opposite side to Paddy McCarthy, who is making his first Leinster start, with Gus McCarthy at hooker. Ryan Baird moves into the second row, where he will partner with Brian Deeny.
It’s a new-look back row, with Alex Soroka and Will Connors on the flanks to support Max Deegan at number eight. Luke McGrath captains the side once more and continues his half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast. Robbie Henshaw shifts across to inside centre, with Hugh Cooney set to be his partner on the outside. Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien continue at wing and full-back respectively, while Andrew Osborne comes in for his first appearance of the campaign. Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani and John McKee provide the front row reinforcements, with Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny and James Culhane completing a 6-2 split, as Fintan Gunne and Ciarán Frawley offer cover for the backs.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 Max Deegan, 7 Will Connors, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Paddy McCarthy. Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Scott Penny, 21 James Culhane, 22 Fintan Gunne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.
