The Vodacom Bulls will head into their Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarterfinal clash against Edinburgh sporting close to their strongest available side, with a power pack being selected for the clash.
The Bulls made only a handful of changes to the side that demolished the Dragons, bringing back Wilco Louw and Johan Grobbelaar to their front row, Marcell Coetzee to the loose trio and in the backline Harold Vorster moves into the midfield.
Vorster’s return means Canan Moodie moves back out to the wing with David Kriel shifting back to 13 where he has played for most of the season.
Those who have departed the starting line-up find themselves on the bench - Mornay Smith, Akker van der Merwe in particular heading up a strong forward contingent on the bench alongside the likes of Simphiwe Matanzima, World Cup winner Marco van Staden and Jannes Kirsten.
YOUR team to face Edinburgh in our VURC Quarter Final TOMORROW 🐂
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 30, 2025
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🏆Vodacom Bulls vs Edinburgh
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All of this has excited White who looks forward to his side moving into their third semifinal in four years if they get the victory they desire.
“I’m very happy at this time of the year to have that type of pack to run out for us. And then on the bench guys like Simphiwe, Morne, Akker, Jannes, Marco. Jannes has won a European cup with Exeter, Marco is a World Cup winner, Akker is a Springbok. The other two played for SA A, so a good bench as a pack of forwards as well,” White said.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels continues at loosehead with Gerhard Steenekamp still ruled out with a knee injury, and White was glowing in his praise for how the young Bok has grown in the side during the past season.
“He is good, hey. He has been a schoolboy prodigy and everybody has spoken about him. He played lock in Grade 11 and prop in Matric, played hooker for us. He is talented and I’ve said many times he is too good not to play.
"He is not one of those guys who can wait around while Ox (Nche) and Gerhard (Steenekamp) and Steven Kitshoff are the incumbent looseheads. And now you have Nuthutho Mchunu, who is also a Bok loosehead.
“I thought it would be important to get him into the mix and it has worked out. It doesn’t always work out for everyone but with Gerhard injured and with him playing as he has, it has helped us and helped him at the same time.”
'DIFFERENT VIBE'
Despite the Bulls being favourites on home soil, their history with Edinburgh points to a close game, but while the Bulls are wary of their opposition, White believes the team have learnt from their missed chances in the past few seasons.
“As a coach you also have to evaluate where you are. I've done this many times and I’m not saying this in an arrogant way but I’ve been lucky enough to be able to experience these feelings playing in knockout games in different competitions.
“It is very different from this one, because this group exceeded expectations early on - in the first one to play in a final - the average age was around 23 years old, and to get to another final last year.
"It is different because I feel the group is maturing as a squad. Yes there have been additions to the squad but what has happened is the Johan Grobbelaars and Ruan Nortjes have all been together as a junior squad and they were formative times.
“This time I feel it is different - the vibe is different, the lessons are different and they are a lot more meaningful now because they have played together a lot more. But it is still knockout rugby, and it is still a nice time to play rugby. These are the games you want to play.
“The quarterfinal is with a Scottish team that has internationals in every single position. And on their bench there might be internationals on their entire bench as well. It is not a fait accompli that you just come along and win a quarterfinal.
“It is still a big game and I still take it like that. I still tell myself that we should never take it for granted.”
The winner of this game will face the winner of the Sharks v Munster game next week, and if the Bulls win, the semifinal will be at Loftus Versfeld.
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk; Keagan Johannes, Embrose Papier; Cameron Hanekom, Ruan Nortje (captain), Marcell Coetzee; JF van Heerden, Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Zak Burger, Stedman Gans, Devon Williams.