In a bid to turn the Bulls’ fortunes around, Johan Ackermann has made sweeping changes to his matchday 23 for Friday night’s clash against Pau in the Investec Champions Cup.
The under-pressure head coach has made 11 changes from last week’s team that was defeated at Loftus Versfeld by Bristol Bears: seven in the starting forwards, four in the backline, plus multiple bench rotations.
Bulls rotate for final pool match
The Pretoria-based club face a Pau team that beat Scarlets last weekend in the tournament and is ranked second overall in the Top 14 this season.
After seven straight defeats, Ackermann has rung the changes with captain Ruan Nortje named among the replacements, with Marcell Coetzee taking over the leadership duties in the starting XV.
Coetzee is joined by Nizaam Carr (number eight) and fellow flanker Mpilo Gumede in the back-row, while Reinhardt Ludwig and Ruan Vermaak combine in the second-row.
Up front, Wilco Louw and Johan Grobbelaar make way for Mornay Smith and Akker van der Merwe, respectively, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels retained at loosehead.
In the backs, Zak Burger now partners Handre Pollard in the half-backs, while Sebastian de Klerk replaces David Kriel at outside centre.
Meanwhile, Kurt-Lee Arendse makes his long-awaited return from injury on the right wing, while Junior Boks star Cheswill Jooste will make his Champions Cup debut on the left, having made two appearances for the club so far this season – scoring twice in his URC debut against Ospreys.
On the bench, the Springboks‘ experiment of Marco van Staden playing hooker is rehashed as he provides front-row cover with Alu Tshakweni and Francois Klopper.
Ackermann has also backed a 6-2 split with Nortje joined by Cobus Wiese and Jeandre Rudolph as the cover up front while Keagan Johannes and Kriel provide backline impacts.
Bulls team v Pau
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 David Kriel, 23 Jeandre Rudolph
Venue: Stade du Hameau
Date: Friday, 16 January
Kick-off: 21:00 local (22:00 SA)
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wal), George Selwood (Eng)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
How to watch: beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / Premier Sports / FloRugby
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