Willie le Roux will run the show at flyhalf for the Bulls when they take on Zebre Parma on Saturday in the penultimate round-robin URC match of the season.
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The Bulls have reshuffled their starting line-up for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Zebre Parma at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (1.45pm kick-off).
Currently seventh on the URC log, a victory could see them seal another play-off berth, while also taking them a step closer to a potential home quarter-final should other results go their way this weekend.
They need a favour from Munster, who take on Connacht in an Irish derby, to ensure they safely progress to the knockouts, while wins for the Stormers against Ulster and the Lions against Leinster could further fuel their home play-off dream.
In a significant switch, Willie le Roux will start at flyhalf, with double World Cup winner Handré Pollard shifting to the bench. Paul de Wet takes over at scrumhalf from Embrose Papier, forming a new-look halfback pairing with the decorated Le Roux. Kurt-Lee Arendse moves from wing to fullback, while the fit-again Canan Moodie takes his place at outside centre.
Up front, the home side will field an all-Springbok front row, with Marco van Staden in the No 2 jersey alongside Jan-Hendrik Wessels and tighthead Wilco Louw. Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp rotate to the bench, where they are expected to make an impact.
In the back row, head coach Johan Ackermann has also made a couple of changes. Marcell Coetzee will captain the side in the No 7 jersey, while the dynamic Jeandré Rudolph slots in on the openside flank. Bok eighthman Cameron Hanekom completes the loose trio.
Looking at the bench, the players selected — including Pollard, Papier, utility forward Cobus Wiese and utility back Stedman Gans — are expected to make a significant impact in closing out the game.
The Bulls are chasing five points in this clash and, judging by the backline selected, they could be full of attacking intent in Pretoria. However, they know they cannot underestimate Zebre. The Italians, rooted to the bottom of the log, will be eager to end their campaign on a high note after a disappointing season, and will target an upset in South Africa to do so.
Bulls XV
15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Marco van Staden, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Stedman Gans.