Double Bok boost for Bulls

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls have welcomed back the services of Johan Goosen and Nizaam Carr for their Round Four Currie Cup clash against the Griffons in Welkom on Friday.

Flyhalf Goosen was sidelined due to shoulder surgery whilst Carr (flank) nursed a hamstring niggle.

The pair are the only two changes made by coach Edgar Marutlulle to the starting XV that did duty against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, a week ago.

Carr will line up alongside Phumzile Maqondwana and Muller Uys in the back row, in an otherwise unchanged forwards pack that includes captain Lizo Gqoboka, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Robert Hunt, Jacques Du Plessis and Reinhardt Ludwig.

Goosen will join Keagan Johannes to combine as the two halfbacks in Welkom whilst Lionel Mapoe and Wandisile Simelane combine at centre.

Kabelo Mokoena (left) and Quewin Nortje (right) will burn the gas burners from the wings with Franco Knoetze serving at fullback.

On the bench, Jacques van Rooyen and Simphiwe Matanzima have swapped locations, as van Rooyen joins the European squad with Matanzima reuniting with the South African camp, for family reasons.

JP Alberts and Adriaan Joubert are the only other two changes made to the bench.

Bulls: 15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Quewin Nortje, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).

Replacement: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Joe van Zyl, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 JP Alberts, 20 Mihhali Mosi, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Chris Smit, 23 Adriaan Joubert.

Date: Friday, March 31

Venue: North-West Stadium, Welkom

Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)

Referee: TBC

Assistant referees: TBC

TMO: TBC