Arendse returns with Louw set to lead the Vodacom Bulls in Sharks battle

The Bulls welcome back into the fold World Cup champion Kurt-Lee Arendse as the creative backliner starts his 2023/24 United Rugby Championship campaign against the Sharks on Saturday. The seventh-round fixture is set for Saturday 02 December and kick-off at Loftus Versfeld Stadium will be at 15h00 in the afternoon.

Arendse is one of eight changes made to this weekend’s matchday 23 as he slots into the right wing with national teammate Canan Moodie on the left around David Kriel and Stedman Gans at centre. Willie le Roux - at fullback - completes an agile and dynamic backline that will be linked to the power pack ahead by the half-back duo of Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen.

The services of the front-row trio of Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe and Wilco Louw have been retained with Janko Swanepoel and Reinhardt Ludwig combining at lock behind them. Marco van Staden starts at blindside with Elrigh Louw on the openside, supported by Cameron Hanekom at eight. Louw will lead the side in the absence of both Marcell Coetzee and Ruan Nortje.

The herd will have the opportunity to call upon front rowers Simphiwe Matanzima, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Nizaam Carr and debutant, Deon Slabbert who will feature for the Tshwane outfit for the first time should he get a run. Backline trio, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Walt and Sebastian de Klerk will also be on standby as they complete the eight-man impact squad.

Director of Rugby Jake White said the game will be a great derby for South African fans who will get to see the majority of the available players who were victorious in France.

“We are going to have four World Cup winners running out for us and they are using their available World Cup winners as well. For the first time, the crowd will get the chance to see World Cup winners on the field and I am hoping that will be a great boost for the fans,”

On the match, the Bulls mentor said: “It is going to be a tough match. Last year they beat us, so we are not taking anything for granted despite the starts we have both had,”

“Both teams will be looking for a win and every team wants to win their home game. Any away game is so difficult to win and we have seen the stats. Especially derbies, they are like double-swingers as well, if you get a win it’s like an eight-point swing because you take points from the game as well as points away from people in your conference.”

Asked about an injury update on Ruan Nortje, White commented: “He is not available this week but we are hoping for the best-case scenario which is only a couple of weeks (side-lined) but this is a great opportunity for someone else now,”

“Last week we had lost Grobbies (Johan Grobbelaar, Ruan Vermaak, Marcell Coetzee (through suspension), Johan Goosen (HIA) and Cameron Hanekom, all five guys who played the week before and yet we played so well so I am hoping for more of the same from whoever comes in, that they slot in and give us the same performance.”

On the challenge of the opposition and the team they are bringing up to Loftus: “It doesn’t surprise me; a lot of their players are world-class. I was looking at their backline, all of them are Springboks plus two of their reserves. It was only a matter of time before they got it right and we saw them scoring ten tries against the Dragons at home and I am sure they will be a lot more confident after they got a win.”

BULLS vs SHARKS STARTING XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Janko Swanepoel, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Elrigh Louw (c), 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Canan Moodie, 12. David Kriel, 13. Stedman Gans, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Willie le Roux

BULLS IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Simphiwe Matanzima, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Deon Slabbert, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Sebastian de Klerk

MANAGEMENT: Jake White - Director of Rugby, Chris Rossouw - Assistant Coach, Werner Kruger - Assistant Coach, Gary Gold - Assistant Coach, Andries Bekker - Assistant Coach, Jean Tiedt - Assistant Coach, Kennedy Tsimba - Assistant Coach, Phiwe Nomlomo - Assistant Coach, John-William Meyer - Technical Analyst, Dr. Gerhard Louwrens - Team Doctor, Lance Lemmetjies - Senior Physiotherapist, Darryn Berry - Physiotherapist, Andre Volsteedt - Strength & Conditioning, Yusuf Vahed - Sport Scientist, Elias Bennett - Team Manager, Simon Dyidi - Logistics Manager