The Vodacom Bulls are rolling out the welcome mat for Springbok loose forward Elrigh Louw, who is set to make a dramatic return to the pitch after a 10-month hiatus due to a knee saga. Fans can catch his comeback this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld when the Bulls lock horns with the Lions. While Louw warms the bench, the spotlight skips Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard, sidelined with a calf twinge. The Bulls, currently sixth in the Vodacom URC standings, hope Louw’s return injects some much-needed vigor into their lineup.
Coach Johan Ackermann has stirred the pot with his selection, embedding five Boks in the match 23, including a fit-again hooker Akker van der Merwe and the evergreen fullback Willie le Roux, who Ackermann insists is "central to the Bulls’ ambitions." However, not all news from the infirmary is positive, as the team will miss Kurt-Lee Arendse (concussion) and Jan-Hendrik Wessels (suspension) this round.
"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."
While some key players are off duty against Wales in Cardiff, Ackermann's bench looks robust with the likes of Paul de Wet and Stedman Gans ready to step up. The coach also shed light on Cameron Hanekom’s status, noting the young flanker is still rehabbing a hamstring injury but "should be available soon."
With an old rivalry set to reignite, Ackermann, who knows the Lions inside out, anticipates a bruising encounter. "They’ll believe they can come here and win," he asserted, recalling the Lions' upbeat form before the season break. He predicted a fast-paced, hard-hitting match, urging his team to brace for impact.
History, however, leans heavily in favor of the Bulls who trampled the Lions 31-19 earlier in the year, with the visitors not tasting victory 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.
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The Vodacom Bulls are rolling out the welcome mat for Springbok loose forward Elrigh Louw, who is set to make a dramatic return to the pitch after a 10-month hiatus due to a knee saga. Fans can catch his comeback this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld when the Bulls lock horns with the Lions. While Louw warms the bench, the spotlight skips Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard, sidelined with a calf twinge. The Bulls, currently sixth in the Vodacom URC standings, hope Louw’s return injects some much-needed vigor into their lineup.
Coach Johan Ackermann has stirred the pot with his selection, embedding five Boks in the match 23, including a fit-again hooker Akker van der Merwe and the evergreen fullback Willie le Roux, who Ackermann insists is "central to the Bulls’ ambitions." However, not all news from the infirmary is positive, as the team will miss Kurt-Lee Arendse (concussion) and Jan-Hendrik Wessels (suspension) this round.
"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."
While some key players are off duty against Wales in Cardiff, Ackermann's bench looks robust with the likes of Paul de Wet and Stedman Gans ready to step up. The coach also shed light on Cameron Hanekom’s status, noting the young flanker is still rehabbing a hamstring injury but "should be available soon."
With an old rivalry set to reignite, Ackermann, who knows the Lions inside out, anticipates a bruising encounter. "They’ll believe they can come here and win," he asserted, recalling the Lions' upbeat form before the season break. He predicted a fast-paced, hard-hitting match, urging his team to brace for impact.
History, however, leans heavily in favor of the Bulls who trampled the Lions 31-19 earlier in the year, with the visitors not tasting victory 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.