Kurt-Lee Arendse at fullback for Bulls’ URC outing against Ulster

Bulls boss Jake White has opted to make the most of all his Springbok backs by picking Kurt-Lee Arendse at fullback for his team’s crucial United Rugby Championship match against Ulster in Belfast on Saturday.

Arendse, who made his name in Sevens rugby and initially on the wing and also starred for the Boks out wide, will wear the No 15 on his back for the round 16 game.

Fellow Bok winger Canan Moodie will, however, play in his favourite position of right wing, with rising star David Kriel on the left.

The midfield will be manned by Cornal Hendricks and Harold Vorster, while Zak Burger and Chris Smith will be the halfback pairing.

Experience on bench

Up front, it is a power-packed loose-trio that will run out to face the Irish side. Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden are both Boks, while had it not been for an injury a few years ago Cyle Brink would possibly also have donned the green and gold by now.

The Bulls have also picked a bench with plenty of experience and fire-power. Bismarck du Plessis and Morne Steyn are the two veterans among the replacements.

The last time the Bulls were in action in the URC, on 4 March, they were beaten at home by the Lions (29-25) while the Stormers also pipped them 23-19, also at Loftus, in the match prior to that.

The Bulls’ last win in the URC was on 6 January when they beat the Dragons 29-14 away.

The Bulls’ Currie Cup side also started their campaign with back-to-back defeats to the Pumas and Western Province.

The good news is the Bulls are sixth on the URC log and well-placed to reach the top eight and the playoffs. A win against Ulster would go a long way in securing that spot.

Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Cornal Hendriks, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Chris Smith, Zak Burger, Elrigh Louw, Cyle Brink, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (capt), Ruan Vermaak, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: Bismarck du Plessis, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp, Embrose Papier, Morne Steyn, Steedman Gans