Bulls team: New signing debuts as Johan Ackermann makes sweeping changes featuring 10 Springboks
Luan Giliomee will make his Bulls debut in the team's Investec Champions Cup opener against Stade Français.
Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has made sweeping changes to his matchday 23 for the Investec Champions Cup opener against Stade Français at Loftus Versfeld.
While Ackermann has selected six Springboks in his starting lineup and a further four on the bench, the headline selection is that of Junior Bok Luan Giliomee at full-back.
The 19-year-old makes his debut for the Pretoria club after making the in-season switch from the Durban Sharks, where he enjoyed a blistering start to the 2026/27 campaign.
Sweeping changes for Champions Cup opener
Giliomee joins fellow junior Bok Cheswill Jooste, who earns his first start of the season, in the back three, with Sebastian de Klerk named on the right wing. Harold Vorster and Sango Xamlashe combine in the centres while Ackermann has shaken things up in the halfbacks too.
Paul de Wet retains his position but now partners Springboks ace Handre Pollard. Into the pack and Elrigh Louw captains the Bulls from blindside flanker, with Hanro Liebenberg rested for the Champions Cup clash.
Marco van Staden starts in the six while Cameron Hanekom continues at the back of the pack after his barnstorming shift against the Lions in the United Rugby Championship.
Cobus Wiese also moves into the second row alongside JF van Heerden, with Ruan Vermaak dropping out of the 23-man squad. Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Khutha Mchunu form an entirely new starting front row, replacing Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Francois Klopper, who have all been included among the replacements.
Ackermann has selected a 5-3 bench split with Jaco Grobbelaar and Jeandre Rudolph providing back-five forward cover while Embrose Papier, Stravino Jacobs, and Willie le Roux will aim to make an impact in the backs.
Bulls team v Stade Français
Bulls: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Cheswill Jooste, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Stravino Jacobs, 23 Willie le Roux
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 13:00 UK & IRE / 14:00 FRA, ITA & SA
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (Eng), Jamie Parr (Eng)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
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