Bulls XV hand three debutants their chance as they hunt first Currie Cup win

The Vodacom Bulls XV have named three uncapped players in their run-on side and on the bench for Friday night’s Currie Cup clash against the DHL Stormers XXIII at Loftus Versfeld, as they look to build on last week’s spirited comeback and finally get their season up and running.

Loosehead prop Arno Gustafson and outside centre Pieter van der Merwe will make their debuts from the start, while hooker Duwan Potgieter is set to earn his first cap off the bench. The trio takes the tally of Currie Cup debutants this campaign to 27, underlining just how much game time coach Phiwe Nomlomo and his coaching staff have handed to fresh faces this season.

Scrumhalf Keagan Johannes continues to lead the side from the base of the scrum, with Devon Williams partnering him at flyhalf. In the pack, Heinrich Theron and Sintu Manjezi form the engine room, with Kebotile Maake, named Vodacom Bulls’ U19 Player of the Year on Wednesday evening, Abongile Nonkontwana and JJ Theron, Vodacom Bulls’ U21 and U23 Forward of the Year, rounding out a loose trio tasked with bringing physicality up front.

Behind the scrum, the back three of Riyaad Bam, Marnus Rademeyer and fullback Hakeem Kunene will look to provide the finishing touches, while Demitre Erasmus partners newcomer Van der Merwe in midfield.

Though the Bulls XV remain winless this Currie Cup season, they showed plenty of fight last time out, clawing their way back into contention against the Cheetahs

in a performance that suggested the fight has not gone out of this young squad. That resilience will need to be on full display again on Friday night against a Stormers XXIII side looking to crack the play-offs.

Vodacom Bulls XV starting XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Marnus Rademeyer, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Riyaad Bam; 10 Devon Williams, 9 Keagan Johannes (capt); 8 JJ Theron, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Kebotile Maake; 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Heinrich Theron; 3 Arno Gustafson, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jon Hobson, 17 Sandi Msengana, 18 Duwan Potgieter, 19 Johnathan Eloff, 20 Chinedu Amadi, 21 Cephas van Biljon, 22 Brooklyn Newman, 23 Christiaan Vlok.

DHL Stormers XXIII starting XV: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu; 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni (capt); 8 Divan Fuller, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Xola Nyali; 5 Luan Botha, 4 Tom Barnard; 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo. Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Eric Basson, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Gino Cupido.

Vodacom Bulls XV v DHL Stormers XXIII - Friday @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (5.05pm)

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen

TV: SuperSport