Coetzee leads strong Bulls side into Bordeaux showdown

Marcell Coetzee will captain a star-studded Vodacom Bulls side into their opening Investec Champions’ Cup clash against the defending champions Bordeaux-Begles at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening.

The Bulls announced a side that has no less than 13 Springboks in their match-day 23 and while the team lost midfielder Jan Serfontein this week to an MCL injury that will keep him on the sidelines, there is a lot of firepower in the squad chosen by coach Johan Ackermann.

The Bok front row of Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp will have a bomb squad role, along with a powerful bench that includes Springbok lock Ruan Nortje, the Bulls’ Bok “sheriff” Elrigh Louw and their form scrumhalf Embrose Papier.

The starting XV is led by Coetzee, who teams up with Bok Marco van Staden and last weekend’s captain Reinhardt Ludwig in a loose trio that can do some damage.

The Bok lock Cobus Wiese fronts up with JF van Heerden in the second row with Akker van der Merwe packing down between Alulutho Tshakweni and Mornay Smith in the front row.

Paul de Wet gets the starting nod at nine, with Springbok pivot Handre Pollard getting straight back into the action at 10.

Canan Moodie comes into the backline at 14 with Willie le Roux and Sebastian de Klerk forming a potent back three while Harold Vorster and David Kriel make up the midfield.

Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk; Handre Pollard, Paul de Wet; Marcell Coetzee (captain), Reinhardt Ludwig, Marco van Staden, JF van Heerden, Cobus Wiese, Mornay Smith, Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw, Jeandre Rudolph, Embrose Papier, Stravino Jacobs.