handre pollard bulls super rugby 2019

Handre Pollard of the Bulls in action during the 2019 Super Rugby season. Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images

Everything you need to know about the Stormers vs Bulls

The Stormers welcome back some experienced players for their Super Rugby North-South derby against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

handre pollard bulls super rugby 2019

Handre Pollard of the Bulls in action during the 2019 Super Rugby season. Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images

The Stormers will be back on home turf when they take on the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

Bulls Head Coach, Pote Human said he hopes the squad can retain some consistency, following a bye weekend.

“The last time we had a bye, the result was not a good one, so we are pretty mindful of that. I don’t think complacency will be a factor, at least the guys did not show any in training. It has to do with the fact that we are travelling down to Cape Town. A clash with the home side down there is always a massive one for us.”

Stormers team and injury news

There are seven changes to the starting line-up, with four in the forward pack and three in the backline for the upcoming clash.

Siya Kolisi is back in the starting XV to lead the side from the side of the scrum, along with fellow Springboks Frans Malherbe and Damian de Allende who were rested last week.

Malherbe is joined in the front row by hooker Scarra Ntubeni alongside Steven Kitshoff, with Bongi Mbonambi and Wilco Louw among the replacements.

Lock JD Schickerling returns from injury and starts in the second row, with Eben Etzebeth also making his return from the replacements bench.

In the backline, Jean-Luc du Plessis is back at flyhalf alongside inside centre De Allende, after both players were rested last week, with JJ Engelbrecht at outside-centre in place of the injured Ruhan Nel.

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 Seabelo Senatla.

Bulls team and injury news

Trevor Nyakane will play his 100th Super Rugby match on Saturday in a match that will also see the return of Duane Vermeulen.

Nyakane, who played 42 times for the Cheetahs before moving to Pretoria and Vermeulen, who was rested against the Reds two weeks ago, will be the only centurions in the team to take on the Stormers. Nyakane will be the fifth South African prop to become a Super Rugby centurion.

Midfielder Burger Odendaal will also achieve a milestone and will be running out for his 50th game for the Bulls.

Bulls Head Coach, Pote Human, welcomed back Vermeulen after his rest protocols and he slots back into the No 8 jersey, with Paul Schoeman, who started against the Reds, dropping to the bench in place of Roelof Smit. The only other change is on the bench as well, where Johan Grobbelaar replaces Corniel Els as a back-up hooker.

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Handre Pollard (c), 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Substitutes: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Divan Rossouw

Kick off time

Saturday, 27 April at 15:05 (SAST).

TV & Live Stream

The game will be broadcast live on SuperSport 1 (SS1).