Nortje at flank as Bulls continue to experiment

With the Rainbow Cup final on the line, the Vodacom Bulls coach continued to experiment with team selections, handing regular lock Ruan Nortje a chance at blindside flank for their big showdown with the Sharks on Saturday night.

Nortje, who has been a revelation at five lock this season for the Bulls, will be given a chance to show his versatility, something White sees as a good thing for his future and which could ultimately give the Bulls another option going forward.

With Duane Vermeulen and Elrigh Louw both out with ankle injuries, and Arno Botha on the mend from a hamstring injury, White has turned to new recruit Marcell Coetzee at eight while Marco van Staden will play one of his last appearances at six.

“Marco coming in at six makes it an easy decision, he has played eight for Ulster. It is not a request from anybody but more that we have a combination that can play together,” White said of the loose trio.

The former Bok coach said that Nortje was a perfect fit for the seven role and the Bulls believe his mobility could be a positive factor for them in the Sharks game.

“He is a very good lineout forward, and if he can play in two positions it will be better for him. He has an incredible work rate, and his engine just keeps on going. If we can double him as a guy who can cover loose forward and lock, it makes so much more sense for him going forward.

“If you look at Pieter-Steph du Toit, he started as a lock, moved to seven and became the best player in the world. It is an exciting challenge for Ruan and I’m sure he is up for it, especially with two Springboks playing with him at six and eight.”

With Nortje at seven, promising youngster Janko Swanepoel comes in at five, with White keen to test him against the big Sharks forwards.

“Janko has done very well for us when he has played. He is a junior and has come through the ranks, and won an under-21 title last season for us. He is growing, he has trained with us and has started some big games as well. So hopefully this weekend he will be nice and fresh, he hasn’t played as much as the other locks, so hopefully he will have some energy this weekend.”

Muller Uys, who was last seen before White took over last year, makes a comeback to the bench alongside Springbok Nizaam Carr.

The Bulls need one point from the game to end on top in the Rainbow Cup and represent South Africa in next weekend’s final against Benetton Treviso in Italy.

Vodacom Bulls: David Kriel; Madosh Tambwe, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Cornal Hendricks, Stravino Jacobs; Morne Steyn, Ivan van Zyl; Marcell Coetzee (captain), Ruan Nortje, Marco van Staden, Janko Swanepoel, Walt Steenkamp, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: Schalk Erasmus, Jacques van Rooyen, Trevor Nyakane, Nizaam Carr, Muller Uys, Keegan Johannes, Clinton Swart, Gio Aplon.