In a last-minute shake-up that's set to stir the pot in the fiercely contested north-south derby, the Vodacom Bulls have been forced to bench their key scrumhalf Embrose Papier due to unforeseen circumstances. Stepping into the fray for Saturday's clash against the Stormers at Loftus is Paul de Wet, with Zak Burger amping up as a backup from the bench. The Bulls, peppered with Springbok talent, aim to extend their winning momentum, while the visiting Stormers, haunted by a trio of consecutive losses, face an uphill battle.
The Stormers, despite their recent struggles, are not to be underestimated. Coach Ackermann emphasized the unpredictable nature of derby clashes, stating,
"Derby leveller awaits Stormers centurions"
Ackermann's words are a nod to the fact that when traditional rivals like these meet, past performances can be tossed out the window. The Stormers lineup features seasoned players such as Neethling Fouché, Deon Fourie, and Damian Willemse, with Ruhan Nel leading as captain, promising a match filled with high stakes and higher tensions.
The Bulls boast a formidable starting XV, including the likes of Handré Pollard and Marcell Coetzee, who will captain the side. Their lineup reads like a who's who of rugby notables, setting the scene for a thrilling encounter. The match is scheduled for a 2pm kickoff, promising a spectacle of rugby prowess and strategic gameplay.
BULLS – 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Zak Burger, 23 Willie le Roux.
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In a last-minute shake-up that's set to stir the pot in the fiercely contested north-south derby, the Vodacom Bulls have been forced to bench their key scrumhalf Embrose Papier due to unforeseen circumstances. Stepping into the fray for Saturday's clash against the Stormers at Loftus is Paul de Wet, with Zak Burger amping up as a backup from the bench. The Bulls, peppered with Springbok talent, aim to extend their winning momentum, while the visiting Stormers, haunted by a trio of consecutive losses, face an uphill battle.
The Stormers, despite their recent struggles, are not to be underestimated. Coach Ackermann emphasized the unpredictable nature of derby clashes, stating,
"Derby leveller awaits Stormers centurions"
Ackermann's words are a nod to the fact that when traditional rivals like these meet, past performances can be tossed out the window. The Stormers lineup features seasoned players such as Neethling Fouché, Deon Fourie, and Damian Willemse, with Ruhan Nel leading as captain, promising a match filled with high stakes and higher tensions.The Bulls boast a formidable starting XV, including the likes of Handré Pollard and Marcell Coetzee, who will captain the side. Their lineup reads like a who's who of rugby notables, setting the scene for a thrilling encounter. The match is scheduled for a 2pm kickoff, promising a spectacle of rugby prowess and strategic gameplay.
BULLS – 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Zak Burger, 23 Willie le Roux.
STORMERS – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Bench: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Paul de Villiers, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Wandisile