Bulls name changed team for Scarlets face-off

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named a team that shows nine changes for the United Rugby Championship Round Five match against Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday.

The starting XV is without several Springboks who featured in the win over Ospreys last week.

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Prop Gerhard Steenekamp and No.8 Elrigh Louw both missed out after suffering a concussion last week.

Johan Grobbelaar, Ruan Nortje Marcell Coetzee, David Kriel and Willie le Roux were 'rotated' out of the starting XV.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels will start at prop alongside skipper Armand van der Merwe (at hooker) and Wilco Louw in a powerful front row.

Ruan Vermaak has a new partner at lock in Cobus Wiese.

Kuyenzeka Xaba comes in to pair up with Reinhardt Ludwig at flank.

Cameron Hanekom slots in at No.8.

Izak Burger gets a start at scrumhalf, with Boeta Chamberlain continuing to serve the Bulls at flyhalf.

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Sebastian de Klerk are retained at left and right wing, respectively, with Harold Vorster returning to the matchday fold at inside centre.

Vorster, who was sidelined by a broken nose, has recovered from his nasal repair and will pair up with Canan Moodie, who will line up at outside centre.

Henry Immelman will marshal the troops from fullback.

White has gone with a five-three forwards-favoured split on the replacement bench.

Johan Grobbelaar, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, JF van Heerden, Celimpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Chris Barend Smit and Stedman Gans are all on the bench.

Bulls: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Armand van der Merwe (captain), 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Celimpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Barend Smit, 23 Stedman Gans.

Date: Friday, October 18

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

Kick-off: 19.35 (18.35 GMT; 20.35 SA time)

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales) and Nathan James (Wales)

TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

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