The Vodacom Bulls have kept the same starting line-up for their Heineken Champions’ Cup clash against French giants Toulouse on Sunday as the one which lost to Ulster in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match a week ago.
The Bulls stormed to a 20-12 lead at the break against Ulster but ultimately succumbed 31-23 in a second half slump that cost them the game.
Springboks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie both are again at the back three, while Chris Smith starts ahead of Morne Steyn, who is on the bench. Ruan Nortje leads the side again.
Bismarck du Plessis is again on the bench at hooker, while Dylan Smith is the only new face on the bench, replacing Simphiwe Matanzima, who has returned home for family reasons.
Meanwhile Antoine Dupont will captain Toulouse for the fixture, which includes several faces from France’s Six Nations campaign - including fullback Thomas Ramos, hooker Julien Marchand, flyhalf Romain Ntamack and prop Cyril Baille.
The international stars Toulouse have rolled out for the game include Pita Ahki, who played New Zealand under-20 and for the Chiefs and Hurricanes before, while Richie Arnold, who played for the Western Force and Brumbies is at lock.
England flanker Jack Willis, the only member of the current England squad to play outside the country, lines up at seven.
Teams
RC Toulouse: Thomas Ramos; Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Chocobares, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (captain); Alexandre Roumat, Francois Cros, Jack Willis, Emmanuel Meafou, Richie Arnold, Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille.
Replacements: Pesto Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, David Ainu’u, Thibaud Flament, Alban Placines, Joshua Brennan, Paul Graou, Dimitri Delibes.
Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse; Canan Moodie, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, David Kriel; Chris Smith, Zak Burger; Elrigh Louw, Cyle Brink, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (captain), Ruan Vermaak, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp, Embrose Papier, Morne Steyn, Stedman Gans.