Bulls take some serious beef to the RDS face-off

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White made a number of changes to the match day, for a top-of-the-table United Rugby Championship encounter with Leinster at the RDS Arena on Friday.

The changes include the return of Elrigh Louw, who was sidelined by a shoulder niggle.

The bulldozing forward returns to the starting line-up, where he will lace up his boots alongside Marco van Staden and Marcell Coetzee in the back row.

In front of them will be the lock duo of Ruan Nortje and Vermaak.

The front row will feature Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe and Wilco Louw.

Embrose Papier (No.9) and Johan Goosen (No.10) will form the halfback combination.

At the back, Canan Moodie is retained at outside centre and to his left, he will be joined by David Kriel - who returns to the matchday squad.

Devon Williams switches to left wing, with Kurt-Lee Arendse running out on the right wing.

Willie le Roux will manage affairs from fullback in South Dublin.

White has opted for a five-three split on the replacement bench.

Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig and Mpilo Gumede covers the forwards.

Izak Burger, Chris Smith and Harold Vorster are the backline cover.

Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.

Date: Friday, March 29

Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin

Kick-off 19.35 (19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA Time)

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland) and Andy Fogarty (Ireland)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

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