Ruan Nortje returns as Bulls name side to face Scarlets

Ruan Nortje returns as Bulls name side to face Scarlets

The Bulls will welcome back their captain Ruan Nortje for Friday night's United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets in Llanelli, Wales.

Also notable is the return of Chris Smith at flyhalf, with Johan Goosen shifting to the fullback position to make room.

In the front row, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar and Mornay Smith will form a formidable unit, with Ruan Vermaak joining his skipper Nortje in the second row ahead of a loose trio consisting of Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink and Elrigh Louw.

In the backline, Springbok duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie have been given rest which sees Stravino Jacobs return to left-wing whilst Johan Goosen slots in at fullback with Zak burger at scrumhalf.

Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe combine as the centre pairing with David Kriel slotting in at right wing.

The Pretoria outfit will also have Jan-Hendrick Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Cornal Hendricks and Wandisile Simelane ready to come on from the bench.

"Looking over the last month, I think we are high in the confidence bar last week. Against the Dragons, at the back of the Stormers and the Sharks, the guys bounced back and they were great on the evening in how they managed the game with great energy and confidence. We obviously took that to Exeter and last week we slipped but I thought it was a great learning curve for many of us who were in France for the first time," said Bulls backline coach Chris Rossouw.

"Looking over the last month, I think we are high in the confidence bar last week. Against the Dragons, at the back of the Stormers and the Sharks, the guys bounced back and they were great on the evening in how they managed the game with great energy and confidence. We obviously took that to Exeter and last week we slipped but I thought it was a great learning curve for many of us who were in France for the first time.

"Confidence will be important but obviously execution and being clinical on the night will be more important."

The fixture at Parc y Scarlets stadium will kick off at 21h35pm South African time.

Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 David Kriel, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Cornal Hendricks, 23 Wandisile Simelane.