United Rugby Championship LIVE: Bulls vs Cardiff followed by Scarlets vs Zebre – text & listen
Bulls Team newspublished at 16:51 GMT
Bulls v Cardiff (17:00 GMT)
Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
Cardiff are not the only side to benefit from a high-profile return tonight.
Bulls welcome back South Africa number eight Cameron Hanekom, who has been sidelined since tearing a hamstring in the URC semi-finals last May. The 23-year-old, who won his first Springboks cap against Wales in November 2024, is on the bench.
Head coach Johan Ackermann has also made changes to his starting XV following the tame display against Stormers, with Francois Klopper and Cobus Wiese both coming into the front five and Nizaam Carr replacing Jeandre Rudolph at number eight.
In the backline, Stedman Gans returns at inside centre and Cheswill Jooste gets the nod on the right wing – while Cardiff fans will need no introduction to outside-half Handre Pollard.
Just the 82 South African caps, 825 international points, and two Rugby World Cup wins for the Springbok legend.
Bulls: Kriel; Jooste, Moodie, Gans, Arendse; Pollard, Papier; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Klopper, Wiese, Nortje, Coetzee (capt), Louw, Carr. Replacements: van Staden, Wessels, Mchunu, Vermaak, Hanekom, Rudolph, de Wet, le Roux.
