Ruan Nortje of the Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match between Vodacom Bulls and Benetton Rugby at Loftus Versfeld on April 23, 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa. Image: Gallo Images via Backpagepix
Bulls captain back to lead the herd against Glasgow
Jake White has made five changes to his Bulls side that will take on the Glasgow Warriors in round 16 of the URC.
Ruan Nortje of the Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match between Vodacom Bulls and Benetton Rugby at Loftus Versfeld on April 23, 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa. Image: Gallo Images via Backpagepix
Director of Rugby, Jake White has made five changes to his side that will take on the Glasgow Warriors in round 16 of the 2023/24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The crucial showdown will be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, 11 May.
Jake White makes five changes to Bulls’ lineup
Two changes are positional, while three are personnel changes ahead of the vital match.
Akker van der Merwe and Johan Grobbelaar have swapped places, with the former slotting into the front row at hooker.
Van der Merwe is flanked by Gerhard Steenekamp (loose-head) and Wilco Louw at tight-head to form the front row.
Nortje comes into the second row to pair up with name-sake Ruan Vermaak at lock, which sees Reinhardt Ludwig move to the bench alongside Nizaam Carr, who makes way for Marco van Staden at blind-side flank.
Elrigh Louw starts at openside once more as does Cameron Hanekom at eight.
The backline
Behind the forwards will be the halfback duo Embrose Papier and Chris Smith, with Papier at scrumhalf and Smith at flyhalf. The two will link the forwards with a retained backline from round 15. Kurt-Lee Arendse will run at left wing with Canan Moodie on the right side of the park whilst Harold Vorster and David Kriel are at centre and Willie Le Roux at fullback.
White has gone with a five-three, which sees Grobbelaar and Francois Klopper as the other two personnel changes in the matchday 23. Simphiwe Matanzima, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Valt and Devon Williams complete the 23 men reporting for duty.
The Warriors top the table heading into the weekend. Meanwhile, the Bulls are in fourth, seven points back.
While the Bulls cannot drop out of the top four this week, this match is one they will want to win.
Victory will enhance the Bull’s chance of securing a home advantage in the last four should they reach that stage.
Bulls team
VODACOM BULLS vs GLASGOW WARRIORS STARTING XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Ruan Nortje (c), 6. Marcon van Staden, 7. Elrigh Louw (c), 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Chris Smith, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. David Kriel, 14. Canan Moodie, 15. Willie Le Roux
VODACOM BULLS IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Reinhardt Ludwig, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Jaco van der Valt, 23. Devon Williams
