Johan Goosen returns from injury as Jake White tweaks the Vodacom Bulls lineup to face the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in the URC semi-finals on Saturday.
Goosen, who last featured in early May against Cardiff before limping off after just 11 minutes, starts at 10 in place of Keagan Johannes as the only change to the run-on XV from last week’s victory over Edinburgh.
The 13-Test Springbok has battled with knee injuries this season, limiting him to only 10 appearances and 553 minutes in all competitions.
TEAM: Sharks lose Bok champ for Loftus clash
Johannes scored 14 points, including a splendid try, in a 42-33 quarter-final win for White’s charges over Edinburgh in Pretoria, but takes a spot on the bench in the last-four stage. Stedman Gans makes way for the versatile Johannes, who can scrumhalf and flyhalf.
The rest of the replacements are unchanged, with Akker van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Zak Burger and Devon Williams set to make an impact off the wood.
Saturday’s winner on the Highveld will contest the decider next week, potentially in the Republic if Glasgow Warriors beat Leinster in Dublin.
Runners-up in 2022 and 2024, the Bulls seek redemption after recent setbacks against their coastal rivals as John Plumtree’s charges claimed both regular-season meetings this campaign.
However, history favours White’s Herd at Loftus, where they’ve won three of five previous encounters.
BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 24 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 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.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
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Johan Goosen returns from injury as Jake White tweaks the Vodacom Bulls lineup to face the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in the URC semi-finals on Saturday.
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