Bulls get Springbok and Grobbelaar boost for Jukskei derby

The Bulls and Lions have named their teams for the only United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture this weekend.

Loftus Versfeld will host the first Jukskei derby of the year as the Bulls welcome back star hooker Johan Grobbelaar from injury.

Changes aplenty for the hosts

Bulls boss Jake White has made several changes to his starting XV that defeated Bordeaux 46-40 in the Investec Champions Cup last week.

Tighthead prop Mornay Smith is the only front-rower to retain his starting role as loosehead prop Simphiwe Matanzima moves from the bench to join him and hooker Akker van der Merwe. Last week’s starters, Gerhard Steenekamp and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, both drop out of the matchday 23.

In the locks, Ruan Nortje skippers the side and is partnered by Deon Slabbert, with Reinhardt Ludwig providing cover on the bench.

Springboks flanker Marco van Staden returns and features in a formidable back-row along with fellow international Elrigh Louw and rising star Mpilo Gumede at number eight.

Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen are the starting half-backs once again, while Harold Vorster comes in at number 12, with David Kriel shifting to the outside centre. Sergeal Petersen and Sebastian de Klerk are the starting wingers, with Willie le Roux at full-back.

White has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench with Grobbelaar, Dylan Smith, Khutha Mchunu, Ludwig, Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee covering the forwards and Keagan Johannes and Devon Williams the backs.

Lions’ six-day turnaround

Following their loss to the Ospreys in the Challenge Cup, Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has kept his changes to a minimum despite the six-day turnaround.

The front-row features just one change as Jaco Visagie replaces PJ Botha at hooker, with loosehead JP Smith and tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye retaining the starting prop roles.

Ruben Schoeman and Reinhard Nothnagel are the starting locks once again while Hanru Sirgel comes in at openside flanker with Emmanuel Tshituka and Francke Horn completing the back-row.

Sanele Nohamba switches from scrum-half back to fly-half as Morne van den Berg joins him in the half-backs. The centres also remain unchanged as Marius Louw captains the side at inside centre with Henco van Wyk on his outside.

Quan Horn starts at full-back, with Edwill van der Merwe and Richard Kriel on the wings.

The Lions have also opted for a 6-2 split on the bench. The forwards are: Morne Brandon, Morgan Naude, Ruan Dreyer, Darrien Landsberg, Izak Esterhuizen, and JC Pretorius. Jordan Hendrikse and Erich Cronje will cover the backs.

The teams

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Devon Williams, 23 Marcell Coetzee

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Hanru Sirgel, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 JP Smith
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Izak Esterhuizen, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Erich Cronje

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU), Morne Ferriera (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

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