Bulls rush their Boks back

Returning Springboks Jano Vermaak and Jacques Potgieter has been included in the Blue Bulls team that will play the Free State Cheetahs in a Currie Cup crunch match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Vermaak will play at scrumhalf and Potgieter will form part of a new loose trio combination that also includes Arno Botha, who returns from injury.

Potgieter replaces CJ Stander, who will play off the bench, while Botha replaces Warwick Tecklenburg, who is rested.

Morné Mellett replaces the injured Dawie Steyn for his first involvement in the 2012 season in the other change to the pack that will also see Franco Mostert in the run-on side in place of Grant Hattingh, who is injured.

Steyn has been ruled out with a calf strain and will not be able to play for a week.

Vermaak’s inclusion in place of Rudi Paige is one of three changes at the back. Sampie Mastriet will make his debut on the wing, while JJ Engelbrecht moves to outside centre, with Ulrich Beyers dropping to the bench.

Bjorn Basson was not considered due to a family bereavement.

Chiliboy Ralepelle could also be considered, after failing to recover from his knee injury.

Blue Bulls: 15 Jürgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Cornell Hess, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Ulrich Beyers.

Date: Saturday, September 22

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Cobus Wessels

TMO: Shaun Veldsman