Willie le Roux at flyhalf: White backs Bok veteran's playmaking role for Bulls

The veteran Springbok fullback shifted to No. 10 in the 50th minute of the Bulls' Vodacom URC clash with the Lions at Ellis Park two weeks ago, replacing Boeta Chamberlain. At the time, the Bulls trailed 14-13, but the 35-year-old played a key role in turning the game around, guiding them to a 35-22 bonus-point victory.

White is confident Le Roux can deliver a similar impact in Cape Town.

"Willie's got 98 Tests. I know he's played lots of Tests at fullback but let's not forget he was a flyhalf for Boland [early in his career]," White said ahead of the big clash on Friday.

"He's been going to 10 anyway and in fact, most of his good games at 15 are when he pushes the 10 out of the way and plays 10 for most of the fixture.

"So I'm very comfortable that he will understand what we want to do. He's got a very good feeling for the way we want to play tomorrow. And I can always go back to Boeta [who is on the bench], coming on at 10, and moving Willie back to fullback in the back end of the game if I feel that's what's needed."

White believes that having Le Roux's commanding voice closer to the action at flyhalf will be a major advantage, especially in the absence of injured Bok forwards Ruan Nortje and Elrigh Louw.

"To have him in the middle of the team, between the forwards and backs, as opposed to fullback, will be good for us tomorrow, because he's very vocal, very good at delegating and very good at coaching from behind."

Another notable selection is Jan-Hendrik Wessels at loosehead prop. White acknowledged that scrumming against Springbok tighthead Frans Malherbe would be a "massive" test for the 23-year-old.

"That selection may raise eyebrows, but he's played a Test match against Australia with Grobbies [Johan Grobbelaar] at hooker, they've actually played two Test matches together. So I'm fully confident [in him].

"He's grown as a player and he's too good a player - I've said this many times - to leave in the stands. The two hookers [Grobbelaar and Akker van der Merwe] are playing really well and he has played a lot at prop anyway.

"So it's a massive, massive challenge for him, and it's a massive opportunity for him as well." 

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