Bulls mix it up for Champions Cup opener

Bulls boss Jake White has surprised by naming what looks to be a weakened team for their Champions Cup opener against Lyon in Pretoria on Saturday.

Veteran flyhalf Morne Steyn will lead a Bulls side that features prop Lizo Gqoboka, who’ll make his 100th appearance, from off the bench.

The team also features non-regular United Rugby Championship players Stravino Jacobs, Sibongile Novuka, Stedman Gans and Marco Jansen van Vuren. Scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde is also a player who fans won’t know too much about.

“When this month started I said we would be clever about how wee manage the players,” said Jake White, the Bulls’ director of rugby.

“A couple of Springboks came back (from tour) and needed some time off.

“Some guys have worked really hard to get a game and I just felt it is a home game and it is a good opportunity for some boys who have pushed really hard to get a start.”

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White added: “There are three Springboks, five or six guys who won a Currie Cup final, two guys played in a Super Rugby final three times, so there is enough experience there.”

Some of the more seasoned, regular players missing this week include Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cornal Hendricks, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Nortje, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp and Simphiwee Matanzima.

Bulls: Wandisile Simelane, Sibongile Novuka, Stedman Gans, Marco Janse van Vuren, Stravino Jacobs, Morne Steyn, Bernard van der Linde, Muller Uys, WJ Steenkamp, Nizaam Carr, Reinhardt Ludwig, Jacques du Plessis, Jacques van Rooyen, Bismarck du Plessis, Dylan Smith. Bench: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Lizo Gqoboka, Sebastian Lombard, Janko Swanepoel, Phumzile Maqondwana, Keegan Johannes, Chris Smit, Juan Mostert