URC: Bulls shuffle the deck but keep their aces for Edinburgh test

URC: Bulls shuffle the deck but keep their aces for Edinburgh test

The Bulls have unveiled a refreshed matchday 23 for their United Rugby Championship encounter with Edinburgh this weekend.

The men from Pretoria are hoping to build on last week's comeback victory over Pau. Captain Marcell Coetzee retains the armband, anchoring a pack that shows calculated rotations amid a demanding schedule, while the backline maintains its explosive edge.

Handre Pollard, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, and Willie le Roux hold their starting spots in the backline, ensuring continuity and firepower. Zak Burger continues at scrumhalf, linking the forwards' grunt with the attackers' speed.

But there are changes. In the front row, Johan Grobbelaar slots in at hooker for Akker van der Merwe, with Wilco Louw starting at tighthead prop in place of Mornay Smith, who shifts to the bench. Alu Tshakweni remains as loosehead cover.

Ruan Nortje earns a start at No. 5, replacing Reinhardt Ludwig, who drops to the bench, while Jeandre Rudolph shifts into the No. 8 jersey, with Nizaam Carr moving to the reserves.

In the backline, David Kriel starts at inside centre, taking over from Harold Vorster, who shifts to the bench. New faces like Stravino Jacobs and Embrose Papier add depth on the bench.

Bulls - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Stravino Jacobs.

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