Bulls spring surprise at flyhalf as Johan Goosen returns for massive URC semifinal

Goosen will be the only change to the starters at Loftus Versfeld when the whistle goes at 18:15 on Saturday night in Pretoria.

Head coach Jake White has opted for consistency, making only one other change to the team, bringing in Alulutho Tshakweni to the bench whilst Keagan Johannes shifts to the five-three split standby crew with the return of Goosen. Akker van der Merwe, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Zak Burger and Devon Williams all complete the replacements.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw line up at the front. Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden combine at lock. Marcell Coetzee and captain Ruan Nortje do duty at loose forward with Next-Gen Player of the year, Cameron Hanekom, at No.8.

Embrose Papier will lace up his boots alongside Goosen at halfback. Behind them is the unchanged backline of Sebastian de Klerk, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Canon Moodie and Willie le Roux.

Bulls - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canon Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams.

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