The Bulls XV have handed Currie Cup debuts to Junior Springbok Thomas Beling and scrumhalf Neil le Roux for Saturday’s clash with Griquas in Kimberley.
The Bulls are chasing a first win of the campaign after last week’s opening-round defeat to the Boland Cavaliers, with captain Nama Xaba leading a squad that blends experienced campaigners with emerging talent.
Loose forward Beling returns to domestic action after helping the Junior Boks lift the Junior World Championship title, while Le Roux is set for his first taste of Currie Cup rugby from the bench.
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The match 23 also highlights the strength of the Bulls’ club pathway, with JJ Motlhodi, Abongile Nonkontwana and Damian Baker included, while prop Dian Coetzee and flanker Cephas van Biljon make their first Currie Cup starts.
Dylan Smith, Shaun Schürmann and Coetzee pack down in the front row, with Sintu Manjezi and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg at lock.
Brooklyn Newman and Keagan Johannes form the halfback pairing, while Devon Williams starts at fullback as the Bulls target an improved display against the defending champions, who are also looking to rebound after a loss to the Stormers XXIII.
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BULLS XV – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Hakeem Kunene, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 PA van Niekerk, 11 Riyaad Bam, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Brooklyn Newman, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Cephas van Biljon, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Dian Coetzee, 2 Shaun Schürmann, 1 Dylan Smith.
Bench: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Neil Le Roux, 22 Viaan Mentoor, 23 JJ Motlhodi.
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/X
The post Junior Bok champ boosts Bulls appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Bulls XV have handed Currie Cup debuts to Junior Springbok Thomas Beling and scrumhalf Neil le Roux for Saturday’s clash with Griquas in Kimberley.
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