Midfielder Harold Vorster will get his 50th cap for the Vodacom Bulls, while Boeta Chamberlain gets the nod at flyhalf for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship’s Jukskei derby against the Emirates Lions on Saturday.
Vorster, who made his professional debut for the Lions, will line up against his former side on Saturday, achieving the milestone against the team he also played 76 times for.
While Chamberlain, who slotted in well after Johan Goosen limped off with a knee injury, was preferred at flyhalf, there was some surprise at the fact that Springboks Canan Moodie and Willie le Roux were put on the bench for the game.
Le Roux has been on Springbok leave for the past few weeks and coach Jake White probably wants to ease him back into action, as well as giving him the role as back-up flyhalf and fullback for the match.
Moodie was also on the bench last week and seems to have fallen down the ladder a bit since returning from the Springbok tour last year.
At the back Sergeal Petersen and Sebastian de Klerk are two parts of a back three that features Devon Williams while David Kriel returns to partner Vorster in the midfield. The impactful loose trio of Marcell Coetzee, who played his 50th for the Bulls last weekend, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom are on duty at the back of the scrum.
Cobus Wiese moves in alongside Ruan Nortje at lock behind the all Springbok front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw. Wiese replaces Ruan Vermaak, who was injured last weekend while on the bench Keagan Johannes replaces Zak Burger, who also took a knock against Stade Francais.
OUR team for our Jukskei Derby CLASH tomorrow 🤩🐂🔥
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 24, 2025
🆚 @LionsRugbyCo
🗓️25 January 2025
⏰KICK-OFF: 14:45
📍Emirates Airline Park
🎟️TICKETS ➡️ https://t.co/De9W4wokPq @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #ForeverBlue pic.twitter.com/LDvcnZq2Yg
White was full of praise of the Bulls’ nearest neighbours ahead of the game.
“Their signings have been good, they are a year older and they have been together longer with no significant player losses which makes them the more likely settled side out of the four franchises,” he said.
“They stay in the fight, they are good at everything, they will be at home and expect them to be fired up.”
Vodacom Bulls: Devon Williams, Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sergeal Petersen; Boeta Chamberlain, Embrose Papier; Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje (captain), Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johann Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Francois Klopper, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Keagan Johannes, Canan Moodie, Willie le Roux.