Bulls load up on Boks for Sharks showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls are expecting a tough Currie Cup contest when they face the Sharks in a crucial match at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
Bulls coach Gert Smal has made a handful of changes to the team that made a successful trip to Kimberley a week and a half ago, where they claimed an important 53-27 win against Griquas.
Cyle Brink will make a return to the Bulls side after recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in the opening match of the Currie Cup season earlier in the year.
He will start in the No.6 jersey, alongside loose trio partners Arno Botha, who will captain the side, and WJ Steenkamp.
Kowie Roos, who made his Bulls and Currie Cup debut off the bench in Kimberley, has earned himself a starting berth at tighthead prop, where he will buckle down alongside Lizo Gqoboka at loosehead prop and hooker Schalk Erasmus.
Morne Steyn will earn a starting berth at flyhalf where he will form a halfback pairing with Zak Burger, who will start at No.9.
Other Springboks in the backline include Lionel Mapoe and Harold Vorster, with BlitzBok Kurt-Lee Arendse at fullback.
On the bench, the Bulls can call on United Rugby Championship stars like Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw and Cornal Hendricks.
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Arno Botha (captain), 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Kowie Roos, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Date: Wednesday, March 16
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 20.00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Paul Mente, Local
TMO: Egon Seconds