Illness forces changes to Bulls 23 to face Benetton

The Vodacom Bulls have been forced to make three changes to their sixth-round matchday 23 after overnight illness struck the camp in Italy. The changes see Keagan Johannes moving from the impact squad into the flyhalf role, with Boeta Chamberlain among the casualties that also include centre Stedman Gans and speedster Sebastian de Klerk.

Zak Burger has been drafted into the match day duty list as he will be the reserve scrumhalf now that Johannes shifts to No 10. Chris Barend Smit and Harold Vorster are the other changes in place of Gans and De Klerk on the five-three split impact squad.

The South African outfit will battle out Benetton in Treviso as they round off their first European leg of the 2024/25 Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign. Kick-off at the Stadio Monigo is set for 8.35pm and the match will be broadcast on SuperSport Rugby.

Vodacom Bull starting XV: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Keegan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Elrigh Louw (capt), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee; 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Barend Smit, 23 Harold Vorster.