Jake White shuffles Bulls pack after loss of ace Vermeulen

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White continues to test combinations and positions, but some of his changes have been forced by the injury to Duane Vermeulen. 

Bulls adapt in the absence of Duane Vermeulen

Ruan Nortje shifts to blindside flank opening up space for lock Janko Swanepoel to start in the engine room against the Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday, 12 June 2021.

The Bulls need only deny the Sharks a bonus-point win to ensure they finish top and contest the Rainbow Cp final in Treviso. 

Nortje’s move to the side of the scrum is a result of the injury to Elrigh Louw, while Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee takes over the captaincy and no.8 jumper from Vermeulen, with Marco van Staden covering openside flank against their Durban based opposition.

Settled side

The rest of the starting line-up remains unchanged.

Springbok Nizaam Carr and Junior Springbok Muller Uys have received call ups to take the places of Swanepoel and Van Staden on the bench respectively.

The trip to Durban marks the end of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA regular season, with the Vodacom Bulls going into the game in pole position to contest the North vs South final. The Bulls will be looking to go all out in retaining the top spot, as the Pretoria franchise shifts a gear going into a knockout rugby mindset.

“We have approached this match as if it were a semi-final. Nothing less than a win is good enough. The boys need no further motivation and despite a few injuries, come Saturday we will be focused and determined to execute our plan,” said White. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:15 with the match being televised live on SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Bulls squad

15. David Kriel (Betway Centurion)

14. Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria)

13. Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria)

12. Cornal Hendricks (Northam)

11. Stravino Jacobs (Harlequins)

10. Morné Steyn (Tuine)

9. Ivan van Zyl (Tuine)

8. Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle – C)

7. Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

6. Marco van Staden (Pretoria)

5. Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria)

4. Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion)

3. Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion)

2. Johan Grobbelaar (Tukkies)

1. Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

Bulls Replacements:

16. Schalk Erasmus (Tuine)

17. Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine)

18. Trevor Nyakane (Harlequins)

19. Nizaam Carr (Betway Centurion)

20. Muller Uys (Tukkies)

21. Keagan Johannes (Tukkies)

22. Clinton Swart (Tukkies)

23. Gio Aplon (Betway Centurion)

24. Robert Hunt (Harlequins)

25. Jan Uys (Pretoria)

26. Dawid Kellerman (Pretoria)

27. Richard Kriel (Tuine)

Match officials:

Referee: AJ Jacobs

AR1: Jaco Peyper

AR2: Griffin Colby

TMO: Stuart Berry