Bulls unveil team for Melbourne showdown

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls coach Pote Human named Hanro Liebenberg and Warrick Gelant in his starting team to play the Rebels at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne on Friday.

Both players missed last weekend’s clash against the Crusaders due to injury.

Gelant comes in for Divan Rossouw at fullback, while Liebenberg takes over from Jannes Kirsten at flank.

Rossouw and Kirsten drop to the bench as utility back and forward respectively, with Dylan Sage and Thembelani Bholi missing out on the opening tour match.

In another change to the pack, Paul Schoeman starts at blindside in place of Marco van Staden, who moves to the bench.

The match will be the start of the Bulls' four-week tour of Australasia.

The Bulls are coming off a 13-45 defeat to the Crusaders in Pretoria.

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wiehan Herbst, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Divan Rossouw.

Date: Friday, May 17

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-off: 19.45 (11.45 SA time; 09.45 GMT)

Referee: Federico Anselmi

Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Aaron Pook

TMO: Ian Smith