Nortje starts at No 7 for Bulls' clash with Warriors

Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has made several surprise selections ahead of his team’s final match of their European tour against defending champions Glasgow Warriors in their United Rugby Championship Round 16 match on Friday.

The most significant of the changes are the loose forwards.

Captain Ruan Nortje moves from lock to flank in a new combination that sees Marco van Staden returning at No 8 and Jannes Kirsten on the other flank.

Cameron Hanekom drops out of the matchday 23 and Marcell Coetzee is on the bench while Johann Grobbelaar starts at hooker and Akker van der Merwe drops down to the bench.

Sebastian de Klerk and Canan Moodie swap jerseys but stay on the wings.

Also back and featuring on the bench is Springbok veteran Willie le Roux.

Le Roux, who had a minor intrusive medical procedure done a few weeks back, forms part of a five-three split impact squad that also features Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Grobbelaar, Coetzee, Keagan Johannes and Stedman Gans.

The starting 15 sees Springbok trio Jan-hendrik Wessels, Johann Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw line up at the front with Cobus Wiese pairing up with JF van Heerden at lock. Kirsten and his skipper, Nortje, will shoulder things up at loose forward with Van Staden at No 8.

At the back, an unchanged backline comprising Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen, De Klerk, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Moodie and Devon Williams will be looking to split through the field behind their power-packed forward pack.

White explained his reasoning for why last weekend’s Player of the Match, Coetzee, is on the bench and Nortje is wearing the No 7 jersey.

“Willie had an operation and he probably could’ve joined us a week earlier," White said.

“Marco (van Staden) went home for the birth of his second child.

“It was never a case of him not coming back, it was just whether or not there were complications or whatever.

“Marcell had knee issues for years.

“Switching between synthetic, grass and 4G pitches has an impact on his knees. He could’ve quite easily started at No 8 and Marco van Staden at blindside flanker.

“It allows us to rotate and put some new combinations together.

“I have said before I’d like to see Ruan Nortje at No 7 and as much as it might or might not have been pre-planned, it provided me an opportunity to take a look at that (loose forward) combination.

“It gives Marcell Coetzee a bit of a breather in terms of his knee, and it also allows blooding a youngster in Jacobus Grobler, who is a SA Under-20 lock.

“It allows him to come into the squad and see what it’s like.

“It’s his first game with this group, and it will be fantastic for him to be part of a team like we’ve got on the field.”

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk; 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Ruan Nortje (capt), 6 Jannes Kirsten; 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jacobus Grobbelaar, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Stedman Gans.

FRIDAY

Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 7.35pm IRE & UK/8.35pm ITA & SA

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 102nd league game)

AR 1: Ru Campbell (SRU) AR 2: Finlay Brown (SRU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv