Jake White has opted to retain Willie le Roux at flyhalf, while there is no Cameron Hanekom in the Bulls team named on Friday for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown with the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld (5pm start).
The Bulls coach felt that it was a mixed bag from Le Roux at No 10 in last week’s 33-32 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town, and he said he would be weighing up his options in that regard for the Sharks clash.
But on Friday, the veteran Bok fullback was selected as the pivot once more, and he will square off with Sharks No 10 Siya Masuku on Saturday.
There was one major omission from the Bulls side, though, with star No 8 Cameron Hanekom absent from the team list.
It is not yet clear if Hanekom is injured or not, but he was the Player of the Match against the Stormers last week and would’ve hoped to produce another eye-catching performance against the Sharks to impress Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.
Hanekom was part of the 56-man group named on Friday for a Bok alignment camp in Cape Town in early March, along with several other Bulls.
The forwards chosen were Johan Grobbelaar, Mpilo Gumede, Wilco Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortjé, Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Cobus Wiese, while the backs were Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Le Roux, Canan Moodie and Embrose Papier.
Ludwig will captain the Bulls against the Sharks on Saturday as last week’s skipper, Marcell Coetzee, was also not included in the match-23 announced on Friday.
Instead, Springbok loose forward Nizaam Carr will take over from Hanekom at No 8, while another Bok in Marco van Staden comes in for Coetzee at openside flank.
In light of the @Vodacom #URC Origins Round, we let Cameron reminisce on where it all started 🥹🏆
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) February 12, 2025
🏆Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks
🗓️15 February
⏰KICK-OFF: 17:00
📍LOFTUS
🎟️TICKETS ➡️ https://t.co/m0aR7qpPm9 #BokBuster | #FillUpLoftus pic.twitter.com/AKe0Gug3OK
Cobus Wiese’s knee injury sustained against the Stormers sees Ruan Vermaak slot it at No 4 lock, while the rest of the starting XV remains unchanged.
That means Bok prop Gerhard Steenekamp continues as a replacement, while Jannes Kirsten and Gumede will cover lock and the loose trio off the bench.
Bok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi has also been called up as a backline reserve.
Bulls Team
15 Devon Williams 14 Canan Moodie 13 David Kriel 12 Harold Vorster 11 Sergeal Petersen 10 Willie le Roux 9 Embrose Papier 8 Nizaam Carr 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (captain) 6 Marco van Staden 5 JF van Heerden 4 Ruan Vermaak 3 Wilco Louw 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe 17 Gerhard Steenekamp 18 Francois Klopper 19 Jannes Kirsten 20 Mpilo Gumede 21 Zak Burger 22 Boeta Chamberlain 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.
Sharks Team
15 Jordan Hendrikse 14 Yaw Penxe 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 Lukhanyo Am 11 Ethan Hooker 10 Siya Masuku 9 Grant Williams 8 Phespi Buthelezi 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain) 6 Tino Mavesere 5 Jason Jenkins 4 Corné Rahl 3 Trevor Nyakane 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester 17 Ruan Dreyer 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Lappies Labuschagne 20 Jannes Potgieter 21 Bradley Davids 22 Francois Venter 23 Jaco Williams.