The Vodacom Bulls are jetting off to Ireland with a baker's dozen of Springboks, but not everyone's boarding the plane. Marcell Coetzee, usually seen charging down the field, met an immovable object in the form of a failed Head Injury Assessment and will be sitting this trip out. Taking over the captaincy reins will be the indomitable Johan Grobbelaar. Meanwhile, the wings are clipped for Kurt-Lee Arendse as he continues to nurse a pesky hamstring back in rehab, and Wilco Louw, adhering to player welfare protocols, will swap his scrum cap for a spectator's hat after week two, making way for Khuta Mchunu.
Not ones to dwell on the absentees, the Bulls' lineup still reads like a who's who of rugby royalty. The return of Cheswill Jooste, Jan Serfontein, and Cobus Wiese—fresh from their spectator stint during the Leinster match—promises to add some extra sparkle to the roster. With heavy hitters like Handré Pollard, Canan Moodie, and the aforementioned Louw, the squad's got enough metal to build a second Loftus Versfeld!
"We've got individual plans in place, but injuries have already forced one or two changes,"
said coach Johan Ackermann, who's no stranger to the juggling act of managing a top-tier rugby team. He added a note on the integration of new and returning players:
"Hopefully we'll integrate them quickly. It’s probably the biggest challenge for Handré, just because he’s the newest addition, while the others have played with us before."
As they gear up to face Ulster, Connacht, and Glasgow, the Bulls hope to continue the momentum that has them locked at the top of the URC standings, neck and neck with the Stormers. Both teams remain unbeaten as the tour looms, a testament to their prowess and depth.
Bulls squad for the tour includes: Alulutho Tshkweni, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste, Cobus Wiese, David Kriel, Devon Williams, Embrose Papier, Francois Kloppers, Gerhard Steenekamp, Handré Pollard, Harold Vorster, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Jan Serfontein, Jean Else, Jeandre Rudolph, JJ Theron, Johan Grobbelaar (c), Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes, Marco van Staden, Mornay Smith, Mpilo Gumede, N J van Rensburg, Nama Xaba, Paul de Wet, Reinhardt Ludwig, Sebastian de Klerk, Stravino Jacobs, Wilco Louw, Willie le Roux, Zak Burger. Non-travelling reserves: Etienne Janneke, Esethu Mnebelele, Khuta Mchunu, Sintu Manjezi, Jacobus Grobbelaar, Kurt-Lee Arendse (pending fitness), Stedman Gans, Sergeal Petersen.
With the tour set to kick off, the Bulls are not just taking flights; they're looking to take flight in the URC standings, proving that even without some of their key players, they're a force
2,193 posts
The Vodacom Bulls are jetting off to Ireland with a baker's dozen of Springboks, but not everyone's boarding the plane. Marcell Coetzee, usually seen charging down the field, met an immovable object in the form of a failed Head Injury Assessment and will be sitting this trip out. Taking over the captaincy reins will be the indomitable Johan Grobbelaar. Meanwhile, the wings are clipped for Kurt-Lee Arendse as he continues to nurse a pesky hamstring back in rehab, and Wilco Louw, adhering to player welfare protocols, will swap his scrum cap for a spectator's hat after week two, making way for Khuta Mchunu.
Not ones to dwell on the absentees, the Bulls' lineup still reads like a who's who of rugby royalty. The return of Cheswill Jooste, Jan Serfontein, and Cobus Wiese—fresh from their spectator stint during the Leinster match—promises to add some extra sparkle to the roster. With heavy hitters like Handré Pollard, Canan Moodie, and the aforementioned Louw, the squad's got enough metal to build a second Loftus Versfeld!
"We've got individual plans in place, but injuries have already forced one or two changes,"
said coach Johan Ackermann, who's no stranger to the juggling act of managing a top-tier rugby team. He added a note on the integration of new and returning players:
"Hopefully we'll integrate them quickly. It’s probably the biggest challenge for Handré, just because he’s the newest addition, while the others have played with us before."
As they gear up to face Ulster, Connacht, and Glasgow, the Bulls hope to continue the momentum that has them locked at the top of the URC standings, neck and neck with the Stormers. Both teams remain unbeaten as the tour looms, a testament to their prowess and depth.
Bulls squad for the tour includes: Alulutho Tshkweni, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste, Cobus Wiese, David Kriel, Devon Williams, Embrose Papier, Francois Kloppers, Gerhard Steenekamp, Handré Pollard, Harold Vorster, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Jan Serfontein, Jean Else, Jeandre Rudolph, JJ Theron, Johan Grobbelaar (c), Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes, Marco van Staden, Mornay Smith, Mpilo Gumede, N J van Rensburg, Nama Xaba, Paul de Wet, Reinhardt Ludwig, Sebastian de Klerk, Stravino Jacobs, Wilco Louw, Willie le Roux, Zak Burger. Non-travelling reserves: Etienne Janneke, Esethu Mnebelele, Khuta Mchunu, Sintu Manjezi, Jacobus Grobbelaar, Kurt-Lee Arendse (pending fitness), Stedman Gans, Sergeal Petersen.
With the tour set to kick off, the Bulls are not just taking flights; they're looking to take flight in the URC standings, proving that even without some of their key players, they're a force