Bulls out to bounce back against defending Currie Cup champs Griquas

After a disappointing opening-round defeat to Boland, the Pretoria outfit will be eager to bounce back and lay down a marker against one of the competition's most consistent sides. Captain Nama Xaba leads a squad that combines experienced campaigners, exciting young talent and a strong club rugby representation.

Scrumhalf Neil Le Roux and loose forward Thomas Beling are both in line to make their Currie Cup debuts, with Beling returning to domestic action after helping the Junior Springboks lift the World Rugby U20 Championship title last week.

The selection also underlines the strength of the region's club rugby pathway, with JJ Motlhodi, Abongile Nonkontwana, Damian Baker and Dian Coetzee all earning places in the squad.

Coetzee and Cephas van Biljon will each enjoy another special occasion when they make their first Currie Cup starts. The pair have worked their way through the ranks and now have an opportunity to make an impact from the opening whistle against the defending champions.

Up front, Dylan Smith, Shaun Schurmann and Coetzee form the front row, while Sintu Manjezi and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg provide experience in the second row. Xaba captains the side from the flank alongside van Biljon and JJ Theron in a hardworking loose trio.

Brooklyn Newman and Keagan Johannes combine at halfback, with PA van Niekerk and Demitre Erasmus pairing up in midfield. Out wide, Riyaad Bam and Hakeem Kunene provide attacking spark, while Devon Williams starts at fullback.

Meanwhile, the hosts will be eager to bounce back from their opening round defeat to the Stormers. Griquas will vbe led out by captain Albert Liebenberg, while veteran George Whitehead pulls the strings at flyhalf.

Bulls - 15 Devon Williams, 14 Hakeem Kunene, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 PA van Niekerk, 11 Riyaad Bam, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Brooklyn Newman, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Cephas van Biljon, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Dian Coeztee, 2 Shaun Schurmann, 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Neil Le Roux, 22 Viaan Mentoor, 23 JJ Motlhodi

Griquas - 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bestee, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (c), 4 Lungisi Mbiko, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Carel van der Merwe, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Caleb Abrahams, 22 Sako Makata, 23 Connor Mahoney

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