Forgotten Springbok flyhalf Curwin Bosch will front up to the All Blacks on Saturday as the Vodacom Bulls named their strongest available side for the clash.
Bosch, who is one of the Bulls’ new recruits joins new signings Hanro Liebenberg (from Leicester Tigers), winger Thaakir Abrahams (from Munster) and Hakeem Kunene (on the bench, Sharks) as new faces in the Bulls squad to face the New Zealanders.
The Bulls do have some incredible experience in Springbok fullback Willie le Roux, who will face the All Blacks for the 20th time in his career, while Marcell Coetzee leads the side. Embrose Papier, who returned to the Springbok side and scored a try against Scotland at Loftus, will partner Bosch.
While the Bulls have a dozen players at the Springboks, and a number of injuries - including hooker Akker van der Merwe - they managed to put out a strong side for the clash.Juann Else will be in the hooker role in Van der Merwe’s absence, while props Alu Tshakweni and Francois Klopper earned their stripes at the URC.
Ruan Vermaak and JF van Heerden - the latter a former SA under-20 captain - fill the engine room with the loose trio featuring Liebenberg, Coetzee and Jeandre Rudolph. Rudolph, who had a dream season at the Bulls in the last URC, now gets the chance to face the All Blacks.
The midfield is well-known with Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans lining up while Le Roux will head the back three with Abrahams and Stravino Jacobs.
SA under-20 sensation Cheswill Jooste was not considered as he has only had a week of training after being off ill since returning from the victorious Junior World Championship.
Previous games between the tourists and the Bulls have mostly gone the All Blacks way, except for 1976 where Northern Transvaal beat them 29-27.
Vodacom Bulls team: Willie le Roux; Thaakir Abrahams, Stedman Gans, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Curwin Bosch, Embrose Papier; Jeandre Rudolph, Hanro Liebenberg, Marcell Coetzee (captain), JF van Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Juan Else, Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: Jaundre Schoeman, Sti Sithole, Khuta Mchunu, Reinhardt Ludwig, Mpilo Gumede, Paul de Wet, Katlego Letebele, Hakeem Kunene.