PRETORIA – Bulls regular skipper Burger Odendaal returns to the team following a two-week calf injury layoff and will take his place at inside against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
Odendaal’s return forces Johnny Kotze back to outside centre, with Tongan international Nafi Tuitavake, who didn’t travel with the team, missing out entirely.
“It’s good to be back in the mix,” Odendaal said.
“It was frustrating to not be involved last weekend but I’m sure that’s the feeling of any side-lined athlete.”
The half-back combination of Embrose Papier and Manie Libbok that did a stellar job against the Highlanders, in the Bulls’ first win of the season, remains intact.
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Rookies Muller Uys (No 8), Ruan Nortje and Ian Groenewald (both locks) will start their second matches in a row this weekend.
Bulls team:
Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Johnny Kotze, Burger Odendaal (C), Rosko Specman, Manie Libbok, Embrose Papier, Muller Uys, Josh Strauss, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Ian Groenewald, Trevor Nyakane (C), Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements:
Corniel Els, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wiehahn Herbst, Ryno Pieterse, Ruan Steenkamp, Ivan van Zyl, Morne Steyn, Divan Rossouw.