Marcell Coetzee will lead an overhauled Vodacom Bulls lineup bolstered by URC talent against the Sharks XV in the Currie Cup at Kings Park on Sunday.
Coetzee starts at openside flanker in a formidable back row with the in-form Mpilo Gumede and fit-again Cameron Hanekom, who last featured in the URC final defeat to the Glasgow Warriors at Loftus Versfeld in June.
Locks Cobus Wiese and Jannes Kirsten form a new-look engine room, with Springbok powerhouses Wilco Louw and Akker van der Merwe set to pack down with Jacques van Rooyen in the front row.
In the backline, scrumhalf Embrose Papier links up with playmaker Jaco van der Walt, David Kriel partners Harold Vorster in midfield, while the experienced Devon Williams will combine out wide with wingers Henry Immelman and Sibongile Novuka.
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The likes of regular skipper Nizaam Carr and recent Bok debutant Johan Grobbelaar are set to make an impact off the bench, with Stedman Gans in line to make his long-awaited return to action.
Both the Bulls and Sharks have already booked their place in the semi-finals of this year’s edition of rugby’s oldest competition. Champions in 2020 and 2021, the Herd will be hurting from last week’s defeat to the Lions in Olifantsfontein, and will face a Sharks outfit on a six-game winning run.
Bulls – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Corne Lavagna, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Stedman Gans.
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter
The post Coetzee takes charge of rejigged Bulls appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
