Cape Town – Following a bonus-point win in their last United Rugby Championship match, the Bulls have opted for an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against Munster at Loftus Versfeld (4.05pm kickoff).
Coach Jake White has rewarded the XV that began in the 45-7 victory over Zebre in Parma a few weeks ago, and resisted the temptation to bring back veteran flyhalf Morné Steyn.
The former Springbok pivot was handed a reprieve by the URC organisers following his three-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am, with the suspension reduced by a week after he completed a World Rugby “coaching intervention process”.
But incumbent No 10 Chris Smith produced a Man-of-the-Match performance against Zebre, where his tactical kicking in particular had a major effect on the team as he drove the Italians back into their 22 with a couple of superb touch-finders, in addition to his accurate goal-kicking.
Steyn is on the bench, though, and can be a bit of an insurance policy if things become tight in the second half at Loftus.
“We have a tough challenge ahead of us this weekend against a quality outfit in Munster Rugby. They have been one of the standout sides in the United Rugby Championship so far this season. To manage to claim a record of eight wins in their 11 matches is no small feat,” White said on Friday.
“Munster Rugby may be without some of their internationals this week, but they remain a strong side with other international players like Springbok World Cup winner Damian de Allende in their squad.
“This is a great opportunity for our players to test themselves against some of the best players in the world.”
Bulls Team
15 Kurt-Lee Arendse 14 Cornal Hendricks 13 Lionel Mapoe 12 Harold Vorster 11 Madosh Tambwe 10 Chris Smith 9 Embrose Papier 8 Elrigh Louw 7 Arno Botha 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain) 5 Ruan Nortje 4 Walt Steenkamp 3 Jacques van Rooyen 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Bismarck du Plessis 17 Simphiwe Matanzima 18 Robert Hunt 19 Janko Swanepoel 20 WJ Steenkamp 21 Zak Burger 22 Morné Steyn 23 Canan Moodie.