Bok star Handré Pollard starts for the Bulls at 10 again. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images Bulls coach Johan Ackermann named his strongest available side to face Bristol Bears, including 10 Springboks in the starting XV for the Champions Cup clash at Loftus on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). There is a welcome return to the team, too, for Embrose Papier, who last week turned in a man-of-the-match performance after being called up at the 11th hour.
His pairing with Handré Pollard will be crucial in helping shape the side’s ambitions. The solid midfield firm of Harold Vorster and David Kriel is also reunited, although Canan Moodie misses out due to concussion protocols. Bristol have a full house of points in the Champions Cup – two wins from as many starts – while the Bulls haveyet to record a winafter two matches.
This fixture therefore looms as a must-win affair for the home team if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive. Bristol are on a six-game winning streak while the Bulls have lost their last six matches. The Bulls enjoyed Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones’expertise in trainingahead of the clash.
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Bulls starting XV:1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels2. Johan Grobbelaar3.
Wilco Louw4. Cobus Wiese5. Ruan Nortje (Capt)6.
Marco van Staden7. Elrigh Louw8. Jeandre Rudolph9.
Embrose Papier10. Handré Pollard11. Stravino Jacobs12.
Harold Vorster13. David Kriel14. Sebastian de Klerk15.
Willie le Roux Replacements:16. Akker van der Merwe17. Gerhard Steenekamp18.
Mornay Smith19. Ruan Vermaak20. Mpilo Gumede21.
Zak Burger22. Stedman Gans23. Sergeal Petersen
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