Bulls opt to leave frontline stars at home for Champions Cup playoff

After defeating Lyon 59-19 in the round of 16, boss Jake White criticised the travel arrangements for his squad, who head to England's East Midlands to take on the high-flying Premiership leaders.

SA Rugby responded to White's criticism by revealing the details of their flights and the costs with the entire squad flying business class.

After his outspoken criticism, it has now been reported that the Bulls coach has opted to send a largely second-string team for the knockout match against Northampton.

Before departing for England on Tuesday, White confirmed that many frontline players will not be joining the squad in England and instead stay at home to prepare for the URC clashes against Munster and Ospreys in the coming weeks.

According to Netwerk24, Springboks flyer and man of the match against Lyon, Kurt-Lee Arendse, will miss the clash against Northampton along with fellow World Cup winners Willie le Roux and Canan Moodie.

Boks Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw and Gerhard Steenekamp have also not travelled with the squad, and neither have co-captains Marcell Coetzee and Ruan Nortje.

Flanker Marco van Staden is currently injured and will join Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok in continuing the Springboks' Rugby World Cup trophy tour in George this weekend.

Van Staden's absence means that the Bulls are without 11 Springboks for the match against Northampton, with fellow first-choice players David Kriel, Ruan Vermaak and Johan Grobbelaar also not touring for the Bulls, who are clearly turning their attentions to sealing a home URC play0off match.

If the Bulls do claim a win over the Saints on Saturday, they will have to return to England for the Champions Cup semi-finals regardless of the result between Leinster and La Rochelle as the South African teams cannot host a last-four fixture.

Meanwhile, Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson has sympathised with White and the Bulls' situation.

"You don't book a holiday the week before, so it is incredibly tough for him," Dowson said.

"All you are trying to do as a coaching group is to give that playing group the best opportunity to go and perform and that (the travel) makes it tricky, so, yes, I feel for Jake and the rest of that crew trying to put all that logistics together."

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