Bulls make handful of changes for Cardiff clash | Sport

Aimee Barrett-Theron and Embrose Papier (Gallo)

The Bulls have made a handful of changes for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Welsh outfit Cardiff Blues.

Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has opted to make full use of the team’s rotation system ahead of the match that will be played at Cardiff Arms Park.

“We are making some changes to our match-day squad this week to ensure that we utilise our squad depth while giving fair opportunity to the players to get a feel of this competitive tournament,” White said.

The Bulls team will see five changes to the backline personnel, while there are four new faces in the forwards pack that was on duty last weekend against Connacht.

Fullback David Kriel, wingers Madosh Tambwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse make returns to the starting XV, while scrumhalf Embrose Papier makes a welcomed return in the run-on team after having spent weeks recuperating from an injury ahead of the start of the competition. Cornal Hendricks will shift from wing to the familiar outside centre position, where he will partner with Harold Vorster.

A new-look front row will see hooker Bismarck du Plessis linking up with props Simphiwe Matanzima and Jacques van Rooyen. Janko Swanepoel, at lock, and Jacques du Plessis, at blindside flanker, will both earn starting berths.

“Cardiff has shown good form so far this season in their win over Connacht at home, and, despite their narrow defeat, last week in the Welsh derby against Ospreys. We expect them to come out guns blazing, and we have no doubt that they will be a tough side to face,” added White.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 20:35 (SA time).