Flip van der Merwe returns to the fray, in a straight replacement for Victor Matfield as Bulls number 5 and captain this week. His side faces the Hurricanes in their first tour game on Saturday.
It was earlier revealed that Matfield will not play on tour, meaning an important leadership role for van der Merwe, both in general play and in the line-outs.
The only other change to the side that succumbed to a late draw against the Chiefs at Loftus on Saturday sees Jacques Engelbrehct come into the starting line-up in place of Jacques du Plessis. Engelbrecht starts in his favoured number 8 position, with Dewald Potgieter taking over on the blind side from the benched du Plessis.
Jonno Ross is the man to fall out of the match 23.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Flip van der Merwe (capt), 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Morne Mellett, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Jacques du Plessis, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Ulrich Beyers.
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Why wont Vic play on tour Rob?
@Uli Boelie (Comment 1) : It was explained in an earlier article: “The big lock, who only last week captained the side against the Chiefs, will not play on tour as part of the originally agreed management program but will still make the trip as lineout and attack coach.”
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2014/04/02/bulls-tour-group-named-2/
@Uli Boelie (Comment 1) : its a ploy to have one more player on tour. he wold have been rested anyway, so whey not bring him over as part of the coaching staff and get ons more backup on tour. he will play on tour. I am sure they are holding him in net for big games.