Jan-Hendrik Wessels to make first Bulls start of the season
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21-year old Jan-Hendrik Wessels will make his first United Rugby Championship start when the Vodacom Bulls take on the Glasgow Warriors at the Scotstoun Stadium, in the fourth round of the 2022 United Rugby Championship.
The young front rower- who has played in three opening games of the season - will be propped-up by Gerhard Steenekamp and 23-year old Francois Klopper, who will make his second start of the season, completing the front row.
The Pretoria outfit go into the encounter sitting in 2nd place on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship table, with 3 victories from their opening 3 fixtures, and another win in Glasgow could cement the team’s place at the top for another week.
Director of Rugby, Jake White says it is important that his #BullsHeard start the tour on a positive note.
“I am very happy with how the guys have trained this week, in tricky weather conditions. We are in a good space as a team and have the wonderful opportunity to go out there against Glasgow and do what we need to do. Continuing to build on the momentum we already have from this campaign,”
“It is still early days in this new campaign but if we continue to do the basics right week in and week out, everything else will also fall into place” concluded White.
The formidable pairing of Ruan Nortjé and Walt Steenkamp continues to be the engine room of the side this week, whilst loose-trio Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw and captain marvellous, Marcell Coetzee, combining for another bite of the cherry. Lionel Mapoe starts at outside centre with David Kriel on the inside. Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans will be bringing speed at left and right wing whilst Springbok, Kurt-lee Arendse’s unstoppable precision will serve the team at full-back.
The team will also have the opportunity to call on the experienced Bismarck Du Plessis and Morné Steyn off the bench, with super-sub, Simphiwe Matanzima ready to enforce his impact in the game with fresh legs off the bench.
The match against Glasgow Warriors will kick-off at 20:35pm (CAT) and televised on SuperSport Rugby.
BULLS vs GLASGOW STARTING XV:
- Gerhard Steenekamp 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels 3. Francois Klopper 4. Walt Steenkamp 5. Ruan Nortjé 6. Marcell Coetzee (c) 7. Marco Van Staden 8. Elrigh Louw 9. Zak Burger 10. Chris Smith 11. Stedman Gans 12. David Kriel 13. Lionel Mapoe 14. Cornal Hendricks 15. Kurt-Lee Arendse
BULLS REPLACEMENTS:
- Bismarck Du Plessis 17. Simphiwe Matanzima 18. Mornay Smith 19. Janko Swanepoel 20. Reinhardt Ludwig 21. Embrose Papier 22. Morné Steyn 23. Wandisile Simelane
