A number of Bulls stars stayed at home, but Jake White was still able to choose a strong team to play against the Northampton Saints in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup on Saturday night.
Nizaam Carr will lead the team and he forms a strong loose trio together with exciting loose forwards such as Mpilo Gumede and Cameron Hanekom.
JF van Heerden – who played a cracking hit against Lyon at Loftus Versfeld last week – will line up with Janko Swanepoel, while Akker van der Merwe will provide the necessary bite in the front row.
At the back, the two former Pumas stars, Devon Williams and Sebastian de Klerk, get a chance together in the starting team, while Henry Immelman is the no. 13 jersey will wear.
The 28-year-old Immelman has played more than 70 games for Montpellier, while he was also in action for Edinburgh before his rugby path led him to the Bulls.
Chris Smith and Zak Burger will be the link pair.
It is true that it is difficult for South African teams to play competitive rugby on two European fronts (Champions Cup and United Rugby Series in this case), but there is enough talent in Pretoria to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
Even against a Saints team that is still undefeated in the tournament.
The match starts at 21:00 on Saturday and the action will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Bulls: Devon Williams (full back), Sebastian de Klerk (right wing), Henry Immelman (outside centre), Harold Vorster (inside centre), Stravino Jacobs (left wing), Chris Smith (fly-half), Zak Burger (scrum-half), Cameron Hanekom (eighth man), Mpilo Gumede (flank), Nizaam Carr (flank and captain), JF van Heerden (lock), Janko Swanepoel (lock), Mornay Smith (prop), Akker van der Merwe (hooker) and Simphiwe Matanzima (prop). Substitutes: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Merwe Olivier, Reinhardt Ludwig, Keagan Johannes, Jaco van der Walt and Cornal Hendriks.
