URC: Bulls keep Willie le Roux at flyhalf for Sharks clash

By SABC Sport
14th February 2025

Springbok Willie le Roux is set to pull the strings of the Bulls' attack when the Tshwane side welcomes the Sharks in Round 11 of the United Rugby Championship.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Reinhardt Ludwig will captain the Bulls. Ludwig will lead the side from loose forward, where he will be alongside Marco 'Eskom' van Staden, who returns to action after recovering from surgery a few weeks back. Behind the two will be Nizaam Carr, who completes the loose trio. In front, the combination of Jan-hendrik Wessels, Johann Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw has been retained whilst JF van Heerden has a new lock-mate in Ruan Vermaak.

Director of Rugby, Jake White has retained the services of the same triumphant backline that did duty in Cape Town. Embrose Papier, at scrumhalf and le Roux at flyhalf combine at halfback with Sergeal Petersen and Canan Moodie running out on the wings. Harold Vorster and David Kriel will run at inside and outside centre, respectively, and Devon Williams at fullback.

Speaking about his skipper this weekend, White said: "Reinhardt has been captain before, and he will be around for us based on the fact that he can play lock and loose forward. He knows what we want to get out of tomorrow.

Asked about the choice of the bench combinations, White remarked: "We have realized that there is wisdom in finishing the game with as much experience as you can, so to have Springboks come in to finish the game.

"Also, it will be good to have another group of players get 60-70 minutes of play as we run towards the back end of the competitions."

The five-three split impact squad features new additions to the matchday 23 in Jannes Kirsten, who returns from injury, as well as Celimpilo Gumede and Aphiwe Dyantyi. Akker van der Merwe, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Zak Burger and Boeta Chamberlain.

Bulls - 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux ,9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaa,r 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.