Ackermann makes eight changes for crunch Champions Cup game

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has shuffled his squad, making eight changes to the starting line-up for their Investec Champions Cup clash against English side Northampton Saints at Franklin Gardens on Sunday.

Out goes a number of Springboks - including the likes of Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Marco van Staden and Wilco Louw - while David Kriel is also not in the starting line-up either.

But while it may be a second string outfit in name, it has a lot of quality in it, including the likes of captain Marcell Coetzee, Boks Akker van der Merwe and Cobus Wiese as well.

The most interesting selection is that of former Western Province and Lions pivot Kade Wolhuter, who didn’t settle well at his former teams and has been given a platform to prove himself for the Bulls - where he is on loan until the end of the season.

Ackermann explained that Pollard, whose wife gave birth to their second child a few weeks ago, was afforded leave as a Bulls decision and not SA Rugby enforced leave, and that Wolhuter would have a chance to show his worth.

He also defended his team selections for the second game of the Champions Cup, which can make or break his side’s chances of progressing.

“These players train every day with the side and want their shot, so at some point you have to give them an opportunity to show what they have got,” he said.

Ackermann did admit that the team’s defence was a constant talking point, as they had conceded 34 tries in seven games.

Round two of the #InvestecChampionsCup gets underway this evening 🍿🏉

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“Defence is something we are well aware of, and we know we haven’t got a good record. We keep discussing it as a coaching group and with the players and this week everyone was working hard to get the confidence back on defence. We will keep on working, nobody goes out to miss tackles, and players do make mistakes,” Ackermann explained.

“Also, when you look at it from the outside, the way we played that second half against Bordeaux - for 20 minutes straight we couldn’t exit our own half and we gave away penalties. We held them up over the line a few times, and then we would concede a penalty and be back on our line defending.

“When you give one of the best sides - whether it is Glasgow, Bordeaux or whoever- constant entries into your 22 - you are going to concede tries somewhere. We can’t only focus on one thing, but we need to look at both sides of the ball that we must fix.

“The obvious thing is that we are leaking too many tries - we concede on average five tries a game and that is not good enough.But if we don’t fix other things, like our discipline and out exits, then concentrating on our defence won’t help.”

The other changes sees Zak Burger start at scrumhalf with Devon Williams at fullback and Sergeal Petersen and Stravino Jacobs on the wings. Stedman Gans moves into the 13 jersey to partner Harold Vorster.

Coetzee shifts to openside, with Elrigh Louw getting his first start since returning from injury and Reinhardt Ludwig moving into the seven jersey.

The entire bench is changed with only Embrose Papier there from last weekend’s outing against Bordeaux.

Vodacom Bulls: Devon Williams; Sergeal Peters, Stedman Gans, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Kade Wolhuter, Zak Burger; Elrigh Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marcell Coetzee, JF van Heerden, Cobus Wiese, Mornay Smith, Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements: Juann Else, Sti Sithole, Khuta Mchunu, Celimpilo Gumede, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Keagan Johannes, PA van Niekerk