Willie le Roux returns for Bulls v Glasgow after successful surgery

Springboks Willie le Roux and Marco van Staden have returned to the Bulls squad to take on Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday (kick-off 8.35pm).

Veteran fullback Le Roux underwent a small surgery to repair a minor injury in his neck and shoulder in March.

He missed four games since then – matches against Zebre, Bayonne, Edinburgh and Munster. His return also comes on the back of extending his contract with the Bulls for the next two seasons. Le Roux will play from the bench against Glasgow.

Loose forward Van Staden returns after he missed the 16–13 win against Munster in Ireland last weekend due to the birth of his child.

Bulls make changes for Glasgow

Bulls director of rugby Jake White also made a number of positional and bench switches for the game against Glasgow, who beat the Bulls in the URC final at Loftus last year.

Among the forwards, Johan Grobbelaar starts at hooker for Akker van der Merwe, who moves to the bench. Captain Ruan Nortje moves from five lock to seven flanker, as JF van Heerden fills in at five.

Jannes Kirsten switches from seven flanker to six as last week’s man of the match, Marcell Coetzee moves to the bench, and Marco van Staden plays No 8 for Cameron Hanekom, who is not in the matchday 23.

In the backline, Sebastian de Klerk and Canan Moodie switch their positions on the wing, with De Klerk now at 11 and Moodie at 14.

SA U20 lock Jacobus Grobbelaar is set to make his debut from the bench.

Bulls starting XV: Devon Williams, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (c), Jannes Kirsten, JF van Heerden, Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Jacobus Grobbelaar, Marcell Coetzee, Keagan Johannes, Willie le Roux, Stedman Gans.