Sadie to debut for Blue Bulls

Johann Sadie will make his Currie Cup debut for the Blue Bulls on Saturday.

The attacking midfielder has been included in the side to face the Sharks in a Round Three at Loftus Versfeld - one of four changes made by coach Pine Pienaar.

Sadie replaces Ulrich Beyers, who will return to the Under-21 side, in the only change amongst the backs.

Up front Dewald Potgieter returns at No.8 after he was ruled out shortly before kick-off last week with a quad injury and captain the side, with CJ Stander moving to the side of the scrum.

Grant Hattingh, who played on the flank last week, moves to lock in place of Cornell Hess.

The most experience prop in the province, Werner Kruger, also returns as tighthead, with Frik Kirsten moving to the bench.

Amongst the reserves Arno Botha comes back after a hamstring injury and former Golden Lions scrumhalf Rudi Paige could earn a first cap since being on loan from the Johannesburg team.

Blue Bulls: 15 Jürgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Clayton Blommetjies, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 7 CJ Stander, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Dawie Steyn.

Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Cornell Hess, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Rudi Paige, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Jan Serfontein.

Date: Saturday, August 25

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Cobus Wessels

TMO: Gerrie Coetzee