Carr leads Bulls' calves into battle

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls will take to the field sporting a team that is dominated by the next generation of stars, when they host the Eastern Province Elephants in a preparation match at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.

Director of Rugby Jake White named flank Nizaam Carr as captain and the experienced Springbok will lead not only the team, but a forward pack that is bursting at the seams in terms of talent.

Joe van Zyl (hooker) and Gerhard Steenekamp (prop) were used throughout Super Rugby Unlocked and the Currie Cup, while lock forward Janko Swanepoel continues to gain valuable game time.

The only new face amongst the backs is recently signed wing Madosh Tambwe, who is set to earn his first match in the blue of the Bulls with the halfback pairing Embrose Papier and Chris Smith continuing in their partnership.

The sensational Stravino Jacobs is not ready to hand over his starting role and is expected to be a menace on the wing after an impressive run in the victorious Currie Cup campaign.

The replacements emulate the starting team with Jan-Hendrik Wessels set to add fresh legs in the front row while Raynard Roets and Uzile Tele covering lock and flank respectively.

Keagan Johannes and Diego Appollis will ensure that the attacking flair is unrelenting on match day.

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"Upping the players' game time is central to our approach during our preparation series and our team for Sunday emulates that,"White said.

"These guys have toiled under the hot sun biding their time and their opportunity has now come.

"We know what they can produce and we are looking forward to how they seize their chances," he added.

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Tim Agaba, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements - form: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Gerhard van der Merwe, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Uzile Tele, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Jandré Burger, 23 Diego Appollis, 24 Reinhardt Ludwig, 25 Werner Gouws, 26 Dawid Kellerman.

Date: Sunday, February 28

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)

Referee: Stuart Berry

Assistant referees: Griffin Colby, Ashleigh Murray

TMO: Jaco Peyper