The Vodacom Bulls have loaded their side with Springboks to face their neighbours, the 10bet Lions, in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Hanro Liebenberg will lead the side out in the absence of Marcell Coetzee, as the team look to return to winning ways on their home ground against their dangerous neighbours, after losing to Munster 26-22 in their round two game in Limerick last weekend.
The Bulls have no less than 10 Springboks, and could have added a few more, as Jan-Hendrik Wessels is given a weekend off and Handre Pollard is on the bench for the fixture which is a key one not only for the campaign but also for the South African shield.
Willie le Roux returns to his 15 jersey and has Springbok returnee Canan Moodie and speedster Sebastian de Klerk in his back three while Harold Vorster, who missed the Munster game because of illness, returns to partner Stedman Gans in a very familiar midfield.
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 & 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲. Our Springboks are back and ready for derby weekend at Loftus. Read more about the team 👉 https://t.co/8z3XnT9YHu @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA https://t.co/lOYK1QQY18
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 8, 2026
Curwin Bosch has been given the vote of confidence to continue at 10, despite a charge-down try while Paul de Wet returns to the nine jersey with Embrose Papier still nursing an ankle injury.
Cameron Hanekom returns to the starting line-up after playing a vital part for the Springboks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, and will partner Liebenberg and Loftus’ rising cult hero Jeandre Rudolph in the loose trio.
Rudolph played eight last weekend and made four turnovers against Munster.
Former SA under-20 captain JF van Heerden moves into the second row with Rynhardt Ludwig unavailable due to injury, while Ruan Vermaak keeps his position, with returning Springbok Cobus Wiese on the bench.
Wiese will be playing his 50th game for the Bulls on the bench.
As expected Springboks Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar both return to the front row, with Francois Klopper at tighthead completing the starting line-up.
The bench certainly has an interesting look about it. World Cup winner Marco van Staden covers hooker this weekend again, with Alulutho Tshakweni and Khutha Mchunu the rest of the reserve front row.
Wiese will cover lock, while another Springbok in Elrigh Louw will cover flank in a traditional five-three bench.
Keagan Johannes covers scrumhalf, with World Cup-winning flyhalf Handre Pollard and SA under-20 speedster Cheswill Jooste the rest of the bench.
The Bulls won their opener against Zebre Parma before losing at Munster while the Lions travel to Pretoria unbeaten after two wins - one against defending champions Leinster and one against Welsh side Ospreys.
The Lions won last year’s battle 43-33 but lost the return game at Ellis Park comprehensively, a stat that points to another close battle.
VODACOM BULLS:
15. Willie le Roux, 14. Canan Moodie, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Sebastian de Klerk, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Paul de Wet, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7. Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. JF van Heerden, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 3. Francois Klopper, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Alu Tshakweni, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Elrigh Louw, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Handre Pollard, 23. Cheswill Jooste.
Unavailable: Reinhardt Ludwig, Akker van der Merwe, Embrose Papier, Mornay Smith, Mpilo Gumede, Stravino Jacobs, Mawande Mdanda.