Major overhaul for Bulls as they plot French ambush

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has pressed the re-set button ahead of Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup match against Pau.

In all, there are 11 changes from last weekend’s team: seven in the starting forwards, four in the backline, plus multiple bench rotations.

Captain Ruan Nortje gets a rest among the replacements with Marcell Coetzee back in charge as captain. Two of the most exciting changes feature the return of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheswill Jooste, both on the wings. This means a shift for speedster Sebastian de Klerk, who slots in at outside centre.

In-form Mpilo Gumede gets a welcome start while promising lock Reinhardt Ludwig is also back in favour.

The bench offers a good blend of grunt and guile with the like of Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese and Jeandre Rudolph to call on.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger; 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain); 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak; 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 David Kriel, 23 Jeandre Rudolph.

Section Paloise v Vodacom Bulls - Friday @ Stade du Hameau, Pau (10pm)

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

TV: SuperSport