Vodacom Bulls and World Cup-winning Springbok Canan Moodie will notch up his half-century of appearances in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship when his Tshwane team travels to Cape Town to take on the DHL Stormers in the delayed first-round clash of the 2024/25 campaign.
Moodie achieves the milestone at the same ground and fixture, albeit in the domestic competition, where he made his debut three years back. The 22-year-old shifts into the starting XV this weekend, where he will run at right wing with Sergeal Petersen on the left. Between the fast movers will be the centre pairing of Harold Vorster and David Kriel with Devon Williams at fullback.
Embrose Papier, at scrumhalf, has a new halfback mate in Willie le Roux who will start at flyhalf for the first time since arriving at the capital after his impressive game management in the Jukskei Derby a fortnight ago.
Up in front, Jan-hendrik Wessels gets the nod at prop alongside fellow Springboks in Wilco Louw and Johann Grobbelaar who will lace up his boots at hooker. In the second row, Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden pair up at lock with Marcell Coetzee– who captains the side – at loose forward alongside Reinhardt Ludwig. Cameron Hanekom completes the pack at No 8.
Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White has opted for a five-three split impact squad featuring Akker van der Merwe, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Boeta Chamberlain and Sebastian de Klerk.
DHL Stormers starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie; 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (capt); 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen; 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee (capt); 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.
Comentários