The Bulls face the Sharks in the only Super Rugby Unlocked match on Saturday after the cancellation of the early fixture between the Lions and the Cheetahs.
Super Rugby Unlocked: Bulls vs Sharks – team news
The Sharks welcome back fit-again Springbok wing Sbu Nkosi to their starting line-up for their third-round clash with the Vodacom Bulls.
Nkosi, a member of the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup-winning squad, starts in place of JP Pietersen. Upfront, Kerron van Vuuren (hooker) and Henco Venter (loose forward) – both fit to play again – are set to come off the bench, alongside Yaw Penxe who is on loan from the Southern Kings.
Big Marcel van der Merwe will get his first Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked start since returning to Pretoria from France earlier this year, when the Vodacom Bulls host the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has made a few changes to his team for this clash after their narrow defeat against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
Upfront, Van der Merwe and Elrigh Louw take over from Trevor Nyakane and Arno Botha respectively, while White also made a number of changes to the Vodacom Bulls’ backline, adding some pace and excitement to their back division.
Super Rugby Unlocked: Bulls vs Sharks – Live scores and updates
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What they said ahead of the game
“We’ve got another opportunity this week against the Sharks but we need to be better than we were in Bloemfontein,” said White.
Sharks prop Thomas du Toit, like Nkosi a 2019 RWC winner, said that while things didn’t go quite to plan the last time the two teams met at Loftus Versfeld last month, Saturday’s clash offers the opportunity to show their class and ability.
“It’s an opportunity to correct the mistakes we made three weeks ago and we’re very excited to play there again. It’s a massive opportunity but so too, a massive challenge and one we’ve taken on board,” said Du Toit.
Super Rugby Unlocked: Teams
Bulls
15 David Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marco Jansen van Vuren.
Sharks
15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Yaw Penxe.
