The Vodacom Bulls have selected a strong side to face English Premiership champions Northampton Saints in their Investec Champions’ Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Elrigh Louw leads a strong pack - which includes Bok looseforwards Cameron Hanekom, Marcell Coetzee, and an all-Bok front row as the team look to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of Saracens in the opening round.
With Marco van Staden out for a number of weeks after an ankle injury against Saracens, Coetzee got the nod thanks to good performances against Connacht and Saracens, and partly because Celimpilo Gumede is still under suspension and because Nizaam Carr was also ruled out with appendicitis.
On the bench there is an appearance for Jan-Hendrik Wessels, the Boks winger that can cover both loosehead and hooker, and for Saturday’s purposes Wessels will run out at hooker in his first appearance since leaving the Bok camp with an ankle injury.
‼️YOUR TEAM to face the Northampton Saints TOMORROW at LOFTUS‼️
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) December 13, 2024
🏆Vodacom Bulls vs Northampton Saints
🗓️14 December 2024
⏰KICK-OFF: 15:00
đź“ŤLOFTUS VERSFELD
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While there may be some idea of revenge this week from some close to the team, after the Saints won last season’s quarterfinal clash between the two sides, that was downplayed by coach Jake White on Friday.
“I don’t talk about revenge. It’s not like the old days where you don’t like them and they don’t like you. Rugby is different now. They beat us last year, and they beat us fair and square. So what happened last year has now become immaterial, modern rugby players do not feed off the revenge perspective,” White said.
“They have five international backs and the other backs are just as dangerous, and they were there when they carved us to pieces last year.”
White did say that the Bulls are looking forward to seeing how the Saints, who love to run with the ball, can cope with altitude and a heatwave of 35 degrees.
“What I am looking forward to is to see if they can play their way at altitude with the heat and travel, and if they do, then hats off to them. If they can come to Loftus and run like they like to run, play like they want to play and can play, and beat us here; then you have got to say that they are a good team.”
White celebrated his birthday on Friday and will be hoping his team turns up and gives him a belated birthday present on Saturday.
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Devon Williams; Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw (captain), Marcell Coetzee, JF van Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Akker van der Merwe, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Alulutho Tshakweni, Francois Klopper, Deon Slabbert, Naba Xaba, Zak Burger, Boeta Chamberlain, Stedman Gans.