Reinhardt Ludwig will captain a 25-man Vodacom Bulls squad to Namibia where they will take on the Welwitschias, as the Pretoria outfit ramps up preparations for next season.
Exciting debuts are on the cards for Jake White’s new recruits, with Deon Slabbert, Mpilo Gumede, Jaco van der Walt and Sergeal Petersen all set to run out for the Bulls for the first time since arriving at Loftus Versfeld.
The outing will also be a welcomed return for ‘Rocket Man’ Stravino Jacobs, who has recovered from his season-ending injury suffered earlier in the year.
The return of Rocket Man 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Jsjm1juUI6
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) August 22, 2023
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White has assembled a front row that features Dylan Smith (loosehead), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (hooker) and Robert Hunt (tighthead) with a lock combination of Slabbert and Ludwig WJ Steenkamp (blindside) and Mihlali Mosi (openside) start at flank with Gumede at 8.
Zak Burger pairs up with Van der Walt at halfback with wingers Jacobs and Sibongile Novuka flanking the centre combination of Chris Barend Smit and Cornal Hendricks. Petersen starts at fullback.
The clash will take place on Saturday, 26 August at the WHS Vegkop Stadium in the Namibian capital.
Bulls – 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Simphiwe Matanzima, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Hanekom, 23 Juan Mostert, 24 Eugene Hare, 25 Kabelo Mokoena
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter
