Bulls get Springbok back, but lose three others for Currie Cup semi-final

Director of rugby Jake White has made four changes to the Bulls starting XV for Saturday’s Currie Cup playoff against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

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BULLS BOSS FORCED TO SWITCH THINGS UP

Three of the four personnel swaps were enforced changes, while the fourth was a rotational switch.

The retirement of Springbok legends Morne Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis, who both played their final professional game of rugby against the Cheetahs last week, has resulted in White selecting Chris Smith at flyhalf and Johan Grobbelaar at hooker for the Bulls.

The other enforced change sees Keagan Johannes in place of Springbok Embrose Papier who missed out on selection due to a hamstring strain. Bernard van der Linde provides No 9 backup on the Bulls bench.

In the final change to the starting lineup, Springbok Nizaam Carr will replace Cyle Brink at blindside flank.

The Bulls have also been boosted by the fact that No 8 Elrigh Louw was available for selection after the red card he received last week was rescinded. This comes after Louw was wrongfully given his marching orders in the 37th minute of their clash against the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday afternoon.

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TEAM FOR CURRIE CUP SEMI-FINAL

Bulls –15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan-Henrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Sibongile Novuka, 23 Wandisile Simelane.