Bulls going all-in against Bristol Bears

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann kept his word by selecting a powerful starting XV for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup match against the Bristol Bears at Loftus Versfeld (3pm).

Ten Springboks are in the starting line-up, which will again be led by Ruan Nortje.

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 Handre Piollard 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 Investec Champions Cup - two wins from as many starts - while the Bulls have yet to record a win after two matches.

This fixture therefore looms as a must-win affair for the home team if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Bulls captain Nortje has called for composure and continuity as his side prepares for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup showdown against the in‑form Bristol Bears at Loftus Versfeld.

Speaking at a media briefing, Nortje reflected on the narrow derby defeat to the Stormers, insisting the Bulls had shown enough quality to believe they can turn the corner.

“We were in that game for a full 80 minutes,” Nortje said. “It came down to small margins, a drop goal or penalty that wins or loses you the match. We know the quality we have and with that quality we can be much better than we’ve been the last few weeks.”

The lock forward stressed that cutting out “silly mistakes and turnovers” would be crucial against Bristol, whose mobile pack and expansive style have impressed in Europe.

“They’ve got forwards who play like backs, so we’ll have to be ready for anything,” Nortje warned. “Altitude won’t bother them much but we must make sure we manage our own pack and keep them fresh to put Bristol under pressure.”

Nortje admitted the Bulls’ recent slump has tested the leadership group but said the focus was on building combinations and rhythm after weeks of chopping and changing.

“We’ve struggled to find continuity but January is about settling down and finding our feet. Winning changes everything overnight, so we just need that one result to get momentum.”

The captain also welcomed the influence of new attack coach Neil de Bruin, who joined the setup last month. “He’s already made a big impact in a week and a half. We’re slowly building into a system with him, and we’ve got outside backs who can be dangerous. It’s exciting to see where our attack can go.”

On speculation around Springbok coaches assisting the Bulls, Nortje was unequivocal: “There were no Bok coaches at training last week. It’s all about us executing what we train.”

This week is different, however, with Bok assistant Felix Jones in full voice at practice on Tuesday.

With Bristol boasting a pack that thrives on pace and width, Nortje believes the set‑piece battle will be decisive. “Scrums and line‑outs will be a big fight for ascendancy. If we get good quality ball, our backs can put them under pressure.”

The Bulls, bruised but unbowed, now face a stern test against a Bears side riding high in Europe. For Nortje, the equation is simple: eliminate errors, trust the system and let Loftus roar them home.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stavino Jacobs; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje (capt), 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Henrick Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen.