Towering South African lock Jacques Botha will start for Stade Français against the Bulls in Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup encounter in Pretoria.
The 2.06m, 128kg Botha, who joined the French club last year and made his senior debut aged 19 in December, is set to link up with Frenchman Fabrice Metz in the second row versus his countrymen at Loftus Versfeld.
Up front, Spaniard Alvaro Garcia Albo will pack down between props Moses Alo-Emile and Thomas Bue. Argentinian No 8 Juan-Martin Scelzo will skipper the visitors in a loose trio with Mathieu Hirigoyen and Pierre Huguet.
TEAM: Giliomee starts as Bulls mix and match
Behind the scrum, Martin Blum starts at scrumhalf and links with veteran Kiwi playmaker Ihaia West. Freddy Duguivalu and Julien Delbouis combine in the midfield, while Leo Monin anchors the back three at fullback with Aisake Nawaqadrua and Lester Etien outside him.
The bench holds five forwards and three backs, with former Scotland international Rufus McLean among the replacements.
The Frenchmen, with three victories from their six games in the Top 14 so far, have won only one of their last three games on the road in the competition.
The last time the teams met was in the 2024-25 season on the Highveld, with the Bulls romping to a 48-7 triumph.
ACKERS: Bulls must reset mindset
STADE FRANÇAIS – 15 Leo Monin, 14 Aisake Nawaqadrua, 13 Freddy Duguivalu, 12 Julien Delbouis, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Martin Blum, 8 Juan-Martin Scelzo (c), 7 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 6 Pierre Huguet, 5 Fabrice Metz, 4 Jacques Botha, 3 Moses Alo-Emile, 2 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 1 Thomas Bue.
Bench: 16 Ethan Tia, 17 Sergo Abramishvili, 18 Braxton Asi, 19 Petero Mailulu, 20 Setareki Turagacoke, 21 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 22 Samuel Ezeala, 23 Rufus McLean.
Photo: @stade_francais_paris/Instagram
The post Saffa giant to tackle Bulls at Loftus appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Towering South African lock Jacques Botha will start for Stade Français against the Bulls in Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup encounter in Pretoria.
The post Saffa giant to tackle Bulls at Loftus appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
