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Johannesburg - Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has made only one change to the starting team that beat the Chiefs for Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Western Force at Loftus Versfeld.
Outside centre Jaco Pretorius starts ahead of JP Nel in a rotational swop.
The only other change is on the bench where the lock Wilhelm Steenkamp comes in for Jaco Engels. This means the Bulls will only have Chiliboy Ralepelle and Rayno Gerber amongst the replacements that are able to play in the front row.
Ludeke said at the weekly press conference at Loftus on Wednesday that the Bulls rotations were in the best interests of the team.
“For this weekend’s clash we back Jaco and the same goes for Wilhelm Steenkamp.
“Wilhelm had a great game against the Brumbies and we are going to need him on Saturday. That meant Jaco Engels had to move out of the 22. The players know why this is done and they trust the system.”
Bulls’ captain Victor Matfield is fully aware that his team lost against the Force in 2007 as well as in 2008 and they are preparing for a huge onslaught from the visitors.
“We’ve seen during in the last few weeks that they are a very dangerous team, but we will just concentrate on our own game and try to improve everything that we are doing.
“They are masters of phase play and the breakdowns will again be crucial. But in Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter and Derick Kuun we have a number of players that can put them under pressure at the rucks.”
Bulls:
Zane Kirchner; Akona Ndungane, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (capt.), Danie Rossouw, Werner Kruger, Derick Kun, Gurthr Steenkamp. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Rayno Gerber, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, JP Nel.
