Bulls to unleash new recruits against Scarlets

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has handed debuts to some of his new recruits for their 2023/2024 United Rugby Championship opener against the Scarlets in Pretoria on Sunday.

Those players are Wilco Louw, Sebastian de Klerk, Devon Williams, Akker van der Merwe and Jaco van der Walt, while Cameron Hanekom has also been handed his debut competition appearance.

Louw will lace up his boots in the famous blue at tighthead, alongside Gerhard Steenekamp (loosehead) and Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) in the front row.

Behind the trio will be the lock combination of Ruan Vermaak and co-captain, Ruan Nortje. Nortje’s peer, Marcell Coetzee will start at blindside flank, alongside Elrigh Louw who will start at openside flank as Cameron Hanekom makes his senior debut in the competition at No.8.

Embrose Papier (scrumhalf) and Johan Goosen (flyhalf) will direct traffic at halfback, with Harold Vorster (inside) and David Kriel (outside) combining at centre with Devon Williams at fullback.

The backs will have Stravino Jacobs (left) and Sebastian de Klerk (right) running on the wings. It will be Jacobs’ first match in the competition since recovering from his season-ending injury earlier in the year whilst it will also be a first start in a senior jersey for De Klerk.

On the bench, Reinhardt Ludwig who enjoyed an impressive run in the domestic competition will be on standby with fresh legs while Akker van der Merwe and South African-born Scotland international, Jaco van der Walt will be keen to get off the mark since making the move to the capital.

Alongside the debutants will be Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger and Stedman Gans, all ready to run on as impact players in a five-three bench.

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Stedman Gans.

Date: Sunday, October 22

Venue: Loftus Vesfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT; 14.00 UK & Ireland time)

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)