Much-changed Bulls have 'new' captain

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls will fi9eld a much-changed team, including a new captain, against the Lions in their Currie Cup Round 11 match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Arno Botha will captain the table-topping Bulls in Johannesburg.

Both sides are on the back of high-scoring mid-week fixtures, which saw the Bulls emerge emphatic 56-33 winners over Griquas on Wednesday, while their rivals from across the Jukskei River played to a scintillating 44-all draw with the Cheetahs.

With an expectation of a gruelling contest in Johannesburg, Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has opted to use the rotation policy to full effect with a total of nine changes made to the starting XV for Saturday’s clash - with the bulk of the starters from the mid-week game providing cover from the bench this weekend.

Among the changes is the halfback pairing of Keagan Johannes starting at scrumhalf and Chris Smith at flyhalf.

There will also be a changed front row - as props Simphiwe Matanzima and Jacques van Rooyen will buckle down alongside hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels for the clash.

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Muller Uys, 6 Arno Botha (captain), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.

Replacements - from: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Stedman Gans, 24 Joe van Zyl, 25 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 26 Cornal Hendricks, 27 Stravino Jacobs.

Date: Saturday, August 14

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 13.30 (11.30 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant referees: Local appointment

TMO: Quinton Immelman