Elrigh Louw to notch up 50th cap as Bulls name team for Ospreys clash

The clash will also see versatile forward Jannes Kirsten make his URC debut for the Tshwane-based outfit.

Louw shifts to openside flank with Cameron Hanekom moving to eighth-man duties and Nizaam Carr returning to the matchday fold at blindside flank. In front of the back row will be the lock duo of Ruan Vermaak and Reinhardt Ludwig with an unchanged front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw.

Scrumhalf Embrose Papier will combine with Chris Smith as Johan Goosen serves a three-week ban. Behind the halfbacks, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie will man the wings on either side of Harold Vorster and David Kriel, with Willie Le Roux running out at fullback.

Kirsten, who has been sidelined by injury since joining the Bulls from Exeter Chiefs last year, will form part of a 5-3 split bench which includes the likes of Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Janko Swanepoel, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Valt and Devon Williams.

The Bulls are coming off a disappointing loss against Munster and will be hoping for much better this time around.

"We still have our destiny in our own hands, we still have three games at home until the end of this campaign. Every game has to be like a final in a competition that is as competitive as this league where everyone is still in it with a chance," said boss Jake White.

"There are so many permutations that can happen and while we can control winning at Loftus and still have a chance of getting the final game, then we still have our destiny in our own control and that is important."

On Jannes Kirsten making his long-awaited debut, White said: "He is one of those guys who has won the European Cup and the English Premiership and there aren™t many guys who have done that. So, he brings to the team, at the back end of a competition where it is now like knockout rugby, an incredible amount of knowledge, understanding and calmness.

"He is another guy who might not be captain but definitely has some leadership qualities to help the youngsters on the field as well. He is a very detailed guy and incredibly bright. I can only think for the youngsters that if he can instil what he knows and what he has learnt then he is already then he will already have had an impact even off the field."

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Camereon Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (Captain), 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Devon Williams.

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