Goosen and Hanekom return as Bulls gear up for tough Bayonne challenge

The two teams will meet at 13h30 (SA time) at Stade Jean-Dauger with a place in the quarterfinals of the European competition up for grabs.

Goosen and Hanekom are back in the side but will both start on the bench. Also returning to the squad for Saturday's clash are Reinhardt Ludwig and Stedman Gans, the former slotting into the starting line-up while the latter also joins the cast of replacements.

Up front, White has assembled a front row that features Simphiwe Matanzima, who gets his first start in the Challenge Cup campaign, alongside hooker Akker van der Merwe and fellow prop Wilco Louw. Ludwig comes in to partner JF van Heerden at lock. Marco van Staden shifts from the bench to the starting XV alongside Jannes Kirsten and skipper Marcell Coetzee in the loose trio.

The backline is unchanged from last weekend's big win over Zebre and has once again been entrusted to do the business against Bayonne.

The bench is a strong one, with the likes of Goosen, Hanekom and Gans joined by Springboks Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ruan Nortje and Embrose Papier.

Director of Rugby Jake White knows it will be a tough battle in France but believes the team he has assembled has the goods needed to do the job.

"Bayonne are a very good French team, and their league is probably not spoken about enough in terms of how good it is, as well as how the teams are doing in it. They have been really good this season and I think they are yet to lose at home, so from our point of view that team will finish strong which is important because against other big teams, you will have to play well for 80 minutes.

"They are not number 4 â- on the log â- for nothing. They have a good defence; their set piece is strong. It is a common understanding from local coaches that they have the best centre combination in the League, and that is a rating from the French public.

"They are a really good team all around, not just one area where they are strong. So, it will be a tough game which presents a great opportunity for us, away from home. A wonderful experience for our young players who will be here for the first time. Hopefully, we will play well to the occasion."

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Marcell Coetzee (c), 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Reinhardt Ludwig, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Simphiwe Matanzimae.

Replacements: 16 Jan-hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Stedman Gans.

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