White brings in Arendse for Griquas clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok loose forward, Arno Botha, will make a return to the Bulls starting XV when the side takes on Griquas in a Currie Cup Round 10 fixture at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

Bulls director of rugby Jake White has made a handful of changes to the team that was in action against the Sharks on Friday.

Botha is one of two changes to the forwards pack, where he replaces Muller Uys at blindside flank. Gerhard Steenekamp’s inclusion in the front row, where he takes the place of Lizo Gqoboka at loosehead prop, is the only other change to the front eight.

Lionel Mapoe makes a return to the side where he will feature at outside centre, alongside No.12 Harold Vorster, with Cornal Hendricks making a shift to the right wing.

Kurt-Lee Arendse will add fire power on the other wing as he replaces Stedman Gans, who will provide cover from the bench this week.

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements - from: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jacques du Plessis, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stedman Gans, 24 Joe van Zyl, 25 Muller Uys, 26 WJ Steenkamp, 27 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 28 Richard Kriel.

Date: Wednesday, August 11

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 16.45 (14.45 GMT)

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant Referees: Local

TMO: Egon Seconds