The Vodacom Bulls will face the Bristol Bears in a must-win Investec Champions Cup match on Saturday at 15:00 (SA Time) at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The match is a mid-afternoon kick-off at altitude in Pretoria, a significant advantage for the home side over the travelling English team.
The home team is on a six-match losing streak and needs a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive in the main European competition, while the visiting Bears are in fine form, having won their first two pool matches and are on a six-game winning streak across all competitions.
The Vodacom Bulls have named a powerful team featuring 10 Springboks in the starting line-up, led by captain Ruan Nortje. Flyhalf Handré Pollard and scrumhalf Embrose Papier will partner in the halfbacks, while Canan Moodie is out due to concussion protocols.
Ten Springboks are in the starting line-up, which will again be led by Ruan Nortje.
The solid midfield firm of Harold Vorster and David Kriel is also reunited, although Canan Moodie misses out due to concussion protocols.
The Bristol Bears will be without prop Lovejoy Chawatama due to a calf injury, but the versatile Max Lahiff is fit and available.
George Kloska returns to the starting XV for Bristol Bears. The Bristolian is named at tighthead for the clash with the South Africans, as Pat Lam’s side go in search of a third successive Investec Champions Cup win at the altitude and heat of Pretoria. Max Lahiff packs down at loosehead with Joe Batley returning from suspension to partner Argentina’s Pedro Rubiolo in the second row.
Louis Rees-Zammit is unavailable as he continues through the GRTP process, so Rich Lane comes in at full-back to make his first start of the season, having returned from injury off the bench against Newcastle Falcons a fortnight ago.
Kieran Marmion starts at scrum half, with international trio Ellis Genge, Harry Randall and Matias Moroni set to make an impact off the bench in Pretoria.
Joe Owen could make his 50th appearance for the club from the bench, while Academy duo Jimmy Halliwell and Sam Worsley are also selected in the matchday 23.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1. Max Lahiff. Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Matias Moroni.