Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has made sweeping changes to his side for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the 10bet Lions at Loftus Versfeld (kick-off 1.30pm), with 10 Springboks in the match-day 23 and Hanro Liebenberg named captain for the first time.
The Vodacom Bulls are looking to bounce back after being edged 26-22 by Munster at Thomond Park last week, and the new-look side has plenty of experience and firepower to do it. Lock Cobus Wiese, named on the bench, is in line for his 50th Vodacom Bulls cap.
The Lions arrive in Pretoria in good form. They are two from two after a second successive bonus-point win, a 35-19 victory over the Ospreys. They have won their opening two VURC fixtures for only the second time, having won their opening four matches of the 2024/25 season.
The Vodacom Bulls, meanwhile, will want to rediscover their winning habit. Their only win in their last four first-team matches was the 47-13 victory over Zebre Parma in Round 1. Loftus Versfeld has been a fortress, however. The Vodacom Bulls have won their last five VURC matches there since a defeat to the DHL Stormers in March.
History is also on their side. The Lions have won only one of their last six URC clashes with the Vodacom Bulls, a 43-33 victory at Loftus Versfeld last season.
Vodacom Bulls
Starting XV: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Canan Moodie, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Sebastian de Klerk, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Paul de Wet, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7. Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. JF van Heerden, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 3. Francois Klopper, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Alu Tshakweni, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Elrigh Louw, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Handre Pollard, 23. Cheswill Jooste.
Unavailable: Reinhardt Ludwig, Akker van der Merwe, Embrose Papier, Mornay Smith, Mpilo Gumede, Stravino Jacobs, Mawande Mdanda.
