Playmaker Johan Goosen returns to match fitness and slots right into the starting XV when the Vodacom Bulls and the Hollywoodbets Sharks meet in an all-South African 2024/25 Vodacom United Rugby Championship semifinal. The match is almost sold out, with fewer than 500 tickets still available, starting from as little as R 100.00c, only from Ticketpro
- Goosen back at flyhalf
- Less than 5000 tickets remain
- White keeps continuity with only three changes
Goosen will be the only change to the starters at Loftus Versfeld when the whistle goes at 18h15, on Saturday, 07 June. Mentor, Jake White, has opted for consistency, making one other change to the team, bringing in Alulutho Tshakweni to the impact squad whilst Keagan Johannes shifts to the five-three split standby crew with the return of the goose. Akker van der Merwe, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Zak Burger and Devon Williams, all complete the impact roster.
Jan-hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw line up at the front. Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden combine at lock. Marcell Coetzee and captain Ruan Nortje do duty at loose forward with Next-Gen Player of the year, Cameron Hanekom, at eight.
Embrose Papier will lace up his boots alongside Goosen at halfback. Behind them is the unchanged backline of Sebastian de Klerk, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Canon Moodie and Willie le Roux.
VODACOM BULLS vs HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS STARTING XV: 1. Jan-hendrik Wessels, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. JF van Heerden, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 7. Ruan Nortje (c), 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Sebastian de Klerk, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. David Kriel, 14. Canon Moodie, 15. Willie le Roux
IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Jannes Kirsten, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Keagan Johannes, 23. Devon Williams
MANAGEMENT: Jake White – Director of Rugby, Chris Rossouw – Assistant Coach, Werner Kruger – Assistant Coach, Andries Bekker – Assistant Coach, Jean Tiedt – Assistant Coach, Kennedy Tsimba – Assistant Coach, Phiwe Nomlomo – Assistant Coach, John-William Meyer – Technical Analyst, Dr. Herman Rossouw – Team Doctor, Lance Lemmetjies & Darryn Berry – Physiotherapists, Andre Volsteedt – Strength & Conditioning, Yusuf Vahed – Sport Scientist, Dr. Eugene Hare – Team Manager, Simon Dyidi – Logistics Manager
