PRETORIA – Springbok lock RG Snyman will lead the Bulls in their final Super Rugby outing of the season when they face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Snyman takes over the reins from injured Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard, who is nursing a back injury, while regular captain Burger Odendaal has also failed to recover in time from his injury that has kept him out of action since the June international break.
Bulls coach John Mitchell has also made a few changes to his team that beat the Jaguares.
Loose forward Jannes Kirsten moves from flank to lock in place of Ruben van Heerden, while Thembelani Bholi is elevated to the starting team alongside Marco van Staden and Hanro Liebenberg in the loose trio.
Bulls coach John Mitchell at the press conference at Loftus Versveld on Thursday. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
The Bulls will have a new halfback pairing, with Springbok Ivan van Zyl starting at scrumhalf ahead of Embrose Papier, while Manie Libbok gets his second start of the season at flyhalf in place of Pollard.
Springbok wing Travis Ismaiel returns from injury and will start in the back-three in place of Divan Rossouw, who drops to the bench.
Mitchell has gone for an inexperienced bench which features three uncapped players in hooker Johan Grobbelaar, lock Ruan Nortjé and flyhalf Boeta Hamman.
The Bulls team is:
Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Johnny Kotze, Jamba Ulengo, Manie Libbok, Ivan van Zyl, Hanro Liebenberg, Thembelani Bholi, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman, Jannes Kirsten, Conraad van Vuuren, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman.
Bench: Johan Grobbelaar, Matthys Basson, Mornay Smit, Ruan Nortjé, Nick de Jager, Embrose Papier, Boeta Hamman, Divan Rossouw.