A Springbok loose forward will make his long-awaited return from injury when the Vodacom Bulls face the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Elrigh Louw has been named on the bench after almost 10 months out with a serious knee injury, providing a major boost for the Bulls, who sit sixth on the Vodacom URC log.
However, coach Johan Ackermann has not selected Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard, who has a minor calf niggle.
Ackermann’s match 23 features five Boks, including hooker Akker van der Merwe – also back from injury – and veteran fullback Willie le Roux, who the coach said remains central to the Bulls’ ambitions.
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Kurt-Lee Arendse (concussion) and Jan-Hendrik Wessels (suspension) are still unavailable.
The Bulls’ other Boks – Canan Moodie, Ruan Nortje, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp and Marco van Staden – will play against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
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“Those guys were not available for this week, so we can’t get continuity from a team selection or preparation perspective,” Ackermann said. “We can only work with the players we’ve got.
“This starting team now has the opportunity to put their hands up so that, if needed, we can carry continuity into next week’s Champions Cup match against Bordeaux.”
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Ackermann also provided an update on Cameron Hanekom, saying the young loose forward is still rehabbing his hamstring injury but “should be available soon”.
The Bulls coach, who has deep history with the Lions, expects a highly physical contest in Pretoria.
“I know their mindset – they’ll believe they can come here and win,” he said. “They showed good form before the break and will play with confidence. They’ll try to increase the tempo, play quickly and bring physicality, so we need to be ready for that.”
Recent results lean heavily in the Bulls’ favour. They beat the Lions 31-19 earlier this year, while the visitors have not won at Loftus since March 2023.
BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Jean Else, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Cheswill Jooste.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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