Elrigh Louw returns as Bulls name team for Benetton clash in Treviso

By SABC Sport
24th October 2024

Bulls co-captain Elrigh Louw has returned to full match fitness and has been reinstated in the matchday 23 as the Pretoria outfit prepare to face Benetton in Treviso on Friday night.

Louw has recovered from a concussion suffered in round four of the United Rugby Championship and the rising Springbok star will once again wear the No 8 jersey alongside Marcel Coetzee and Reinhardt Ludwig in the loose trio.

Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden form a powerful second row, while Alulutho Tshakweni will join Springbok duo Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw to pack down up front.

In the backline, Embrose Papier will start at scrumhalf, pairing with flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain as the halfback combination.

In the midfield, Canan Moodie teams up with the returning David Kriel at centre, while Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphiwe Dyantyi and Devon Williams form a deadly back three.

The Bulls' bench features a five-three split, with Akker van der Merwe, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Cameron Hanekom, Keagan Johannes, Stedman Gans, and Sebastian de Klerk ready to provide impact in the second half.

Jake White's side have earned six points on their tour so far and will be looking to add more before the tournament pauses for the November tours.

Bulls - 15 Devon Williams, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw (c), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcel Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.