Bulls beef up for all-important URC clash against table-topping Warriors

The Bulls are preparing to host the highest-ranked team in this season's URC, with the Warriors topping the table with 58 points, but the visitors will need to contend with a highly physical onslaught - and a highly partisan Loftus crowd - this weekend.

White has made five changes to his side from the one that demolished Ospreys two weeks ago: Two of the changes are positional whilst three are personnel changes.

Akker van der Merwe and Johan Grobbelaar have swapped places with the former slotting into the front row at hooker flanked by Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw. 

Co-captain Ruan Nortje returns to the second row to pair up with name-sake Ruan Vermaak, while Nizaam Carr makes way for the recently re-signed Springbok Marco van Staden at flank. Elrigh Louw starts at openside once more as does Cameron Hanekom at eight.

Behind the forwards, halfback duo Embrose Papier and Chris Smith will marshal an unchanged backline, as the likes of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, David Kriel and Willie Le Roux retain their places.

White has gone with a five-three on the bnech which sees Johan Grobbelaar and Francois Klopper as the other two personnel changes in the matchday 23.

Simphiwe Matanzima, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Valt and Devon Williams complete the 23 men reporting for duty.

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

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Devon Williams.

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