Bulls reveal new-look pack for Lions clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ivan van Zyl will lead the Blue Bulls on Saturday when the Pretoria side travels south to meet the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg

Van Zyl will make a first start in the competition after playing off the bench twice so far and take the armband of injured Ruan Steenkamp.

Meanhwile. UP-Tuks flank, Fred Eksteen, will make his Blue Bulls and Currie Cup debut.

Eksteen played his club rugby for UP Tuks before being named in the Blue Bulls Currie Cup wider squad and takes over from Steenkamp at the side of the scrum. The flank will run out along with Dayan van der Westhuizen and Johan Grobbelaar, who were both elevated into the starting team for Saturday’s clash against the undefeated home side.

Van der Westhuizen replaces injured Simphiwe Matanzima, while Grobbelaar swops places with Jaco Visagie, who reverts to the bench.

Wian Vosloo moves into the starting team as well to replace injured Marco van Staden.

In a fifth change to the pack, Andries Ferreira will start at lock, with Adre Smith moving back to the bench after being named a late starter against Griquas when Ferreira was ruled out before kick-off.

Coach Pote Human left the backline intact, bar the Van Zyl swop with Embrose Papier, who will play off the bench.

Madot Makobela is the only newcomer on the bench, taking the place of Van der Westhuizen.

Blue Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl (captain), 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Fred Eksteen, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Dayan van der Westhuizen.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Madot Mabokela, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Jean Droste, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Stedman Gans.

Date: Saturday, August 10

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Jaco Kotze

TMO: Lesego Legoete