The Vodacom Bulls have added two internationals to their line-up to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld - with former Scottish international Jaco van der Walt and former Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi getting their first starts of the Carling Currie Cup.
Van der Walt has not seen action for some time, and an injury to his former Edinburgh teammate Henry Immelmann has necessitated the change, with last weekend’s flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain moving to fullback for the game.
Dyantyi returns from injury in his first game back for a number of months, and will be looking forward to getting a run in front of the Loftus faithful, while another injury picked up by hooker Joe van Zyl means Juan Else is the other change to the side from last week.
Coach Phiwe Nomlomo also added three debutants to the bench with Esethu Mnebelele, Ruan Swart and JJ Theron all getting their caps if they get onto the field against the Sharks.
The impressive loose trio of captain Nama Xaba, Junior Pokomela and Jeandre Rudolph, who did a lot of damage against Western Province last weekend, keep their spots while the rest of the backline is unchanged.
TEAM: Boeta Chamberlain; Aphiwe Dyantyi, Stedman Gans, Chris Barend Smit, Stravino Jacobs; Jaco van der Walt, Zak Burger; Jeandre Rudolph, Junior Pokomela, Nama Xaba (captain), Marvin Orie, Sintu Manjezi, Francois Klopper, Juann Else, Dylan Smith.
REPLACEMENTS: Esethu Mnebelele, Ruan Swart, Jean Erasmus, Dylan de Leeuw, JJ Theron, Steven Nel, PA van Niekerk, Cornel Smit.