Bulls at full strength for Sharks clash as they chase URC top spot

By SABC Sport
31st May 2024

The Bulls have named a fully loaded team for Saturday's final regular game of the URC season against the Sharks, with a chance to finish top of the table on the line.

Jake White's side currently lie in second place on the table but could finish the season in pole position if they beat the Sharks and Munster, the team currently occupying top spot, slip up against Irish opponents Ulster in their final game.

With that in mind, and despite the Sharks fielding a weakened team in a match of little consequence to them, the Bulls have opted to select a full-strength side as they chase all five points in Durban.

White has retained the same 23-man squad that did duty in round 17 of the competition, with only the positional change of Johan Grobbelaar coming into the starting XV for Akker van der Merwe, who shifts to the bench.

Grobbelaar will partner up with Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw in the front row with Ruan Vermaak and his namesake and captain, Ruan Nortje, at the lock positions. Behind them, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom form a formidable loose-forward trio.

Scrumhalf Embrose Papier and No 10 Johan Goosen link up at halfback once more, while Harold Vorster and David Kriel will marshall the midfield and Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Willie le Roux form a Springbok-calibre back three.

The Sharks, meanwhile, with nothing left to play for in the URC have opted to rest the majority of their Springbok stars following their impressive Challenge Cup victory on English soil last week.

It means the Bulls will not have to contend with the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Makazole Mapimpi or Lukhanyo Am on Saturday.

Sharks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter (c), 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Diego Appollis.

Bulls - 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.