The Vodacom Bulls have shuffled their pack and tweaked their backline for Friday’s clash against Cardiff at Loftus, but it’s the return of Cameron Hanekom that headlines the selection.
After a nine-month injury lay-off, the dynamic loose forward is back in the match-day 23, offering both an emotional lift and a timely injection of physicality off the bench.
Up front, there’s a change at tighthead, with Francois Klopper coming into the starting XV, while Cobus Wiese steps up from the bench to partner Ruan Nortje in the second row. Ruan Vermaak, who started last week, shifts to the bench.
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The loose trio has also been reworked. Nizaam Carr earns a start at No 8, with Marcell Coetzee continuing as captain and Elrigh Louw retaining his place on the flank. Jeandre Rudolph provides impact cover among the replacements.
At halfback, the experienced pairing of Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard is reunited, bringing control and direction. In the midfield, Stedman Gans returns at inside centre, while Canan Moodie continues at 13.
Out wide, Cheswill Jooste comes in on the right wing, adding pace in the absence of the injured Sebastian de Klerk, with Kurt-Lee Arendse lining up on the opposite wing.
The Bulls have also loaded their bench with impact, with centurion Marco van Staden and Jan-Hendrik Wessels offering versatility up front, while the inclusion of Khuta Mchunu and Vermaak points to a focus on maintaining set-piece dominance late in the game.
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VODACOM BULLS – 15 David Kriel, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Stedman Gans, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (capt), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Jeandre Rudolph, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Willie le Roux.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Hanekom returns as Bulls reshuffle appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The return of Cameron Hanekom headlines the Vodacom Bulls’ selection ahead of Friday night’s clash against Cardiff.
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