Grobbelaar leads the herd against Saracens

Johan Grobbelaar will lead the Vodacom Bulls when they take on English outfit Saracens on Saturday. © Vodacom Bulls

Johan Grobbelaar will lead the Vodacom Bulls when they take on English outfit Saracens in the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup opening round at StoneX Stadium in London at 7.30pm (SAST).

The Springbok hooker will lead from the front flanked by fellow international teammate Gerhard Steenekamp on his left at loosehead and Francois Klopper at tighthead to his right. Behind the front row, the same lock combination from Round 7 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Ruan Vermaak and JF van Heerden has been retained alongside Cobus Wiese at flanker. Marco van Staden slots in at No 6 with Cameron Hanekom at No 8 as the Bok duo complete the two changes made to the forward pack this week.

Director of Rugby Jake White has paired up Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively.

Elsewhere, the Vodacom Bulls made minor changes, shifting Springbok star Canan Moodie to pair up with David Kriel at centre with Devon Williams coming into the starting XV at left wing. Sebastian de Klerk will dash on the right-hand side of the park with Sergeant Willie le Roux at fullback.

The impact squad has been split into a five-three balance in favour of the forwards, which sees last weekend’s starters in Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Marcel Coetzee and Harold Vorster all shift to standby and are joined by Jannes Kirsten, Keagan Johannes and Aphiwe Dyantyi.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams; 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak; 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar (capt), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Harold Vorster.