Bulls change four for Stormers showdown
Vodacom Bulls coach Nollis Marais made four changes to his starting team to face the Stormers in Pretoria on Saturday. Marais named Travis Ismaiel (wing), Francois Brummer (flyhalf), Piet van Zyl (scrumhalf) and Arno Botha in the team, with Grant Hattingh fit again and included on the bench.
Hattingh last played for the team in the Super Rugby competition in April, but has recovered from the injury that kept him on the sidelines.
Ismaiel and Botha did not play against the Waratahs last weekend in Sydney and replaces Bjorn Basson and Hanro Liebenberg respectively.
Brummer and Van Zyl started on the bench in Sydney and swop places with Tian Schoeman and Rudy Paige.
“It is good to be back at Loftus Versfeld again,” Marais said.
“We had mixed fortunes in Australia and unfortunately dropped our standards in the last two matches. We have no option but to get back on the horse immediately, as the Stormers are playing some great rugby. We need to beat them to move past them on the log as well. So we have a lot to play for and a lot to prove,” Marais said.
Bulls captain, Adriaan Strauss, predicts an arm wrestle and typical local derby.
“We always have massive clashes with the Stormers. It is one of those matches everybody want to play and to be part of. This team have a great opportunity to deliver a proper performances in front of our fans against a formidable foe. We will be ready,” Strauss said.
Team:
15 SP Marais, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Lappies Labuschagne, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Pierre Schoeman, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Deon Stegmann, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Dries Swanepoel