Bulls name team for URC opener with key Springboks unavailable

The Pretoria side reached last season's final after a slow start and will look to make a strong beginning to the new campaign, although their Springboks are unavailable while on national duty in Australia.

The Bulls will be without Handre Pollard, Canan Moodie, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden, who are on national duty in Australia. 

Gerhard Steenekamp, Cameron Hanekom and Cobus Wiese are also unavailable, despite not being part of the Springbok match-day squad, while Embrose Papier continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Despite the lengthy list of missing players, Bulls coach Johan Ackermann will back the players at his disposal to contend with Zebre Parma at Loftus Versfeld.

Ackermann's side still boasts plenty of experience, with Willie le Roux starting at fullback, and Stravino Jacobs and returning winger Sebastian de Klerk on the wings. Curwin Bosch will make his Bulls debut at flyhalf alongside scrumhalf Paul de Wet, while Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans form the midfield partnership.

Marcell Coetzee captains the side from No 8, with Hanro Liebenberg and Jeandre Rudolph completing the loose trio. Alu Tshakweni, Juann Else and Francois Klopper make up the front row.

The replacements include experienced back-rower Nizaam Carr, scrumhalf Zak Burger and lock JF van Heerden.

Bulls - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.

Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Cheswill Jooste, 23 Hakeem Kunene.