Kirchner passes fitness test

Coach Frans Ludeke has made just one change – on the bench – from the team that beat the Hurricanes. Danie Rossouw returns from Paternity leave to take his place on the bench with Jaco van der Westhuyzen falling away.

The Bulls may not have beaten the Crusaders since 1996 in New Zealand, but their win over the Hurricanes last week in Napier has given them a major confidence boost to take on the form side in the competition at the moment.

Coach Frans Ludeke said his team were keen to take on the Crusaders as they would be a great benchmark to where the defending champions are at this stage of the season.

“We were very satisfied with the result against the Hurricanes last week and we’ve been talking about execution of our game plan for a long time now,” Ludeke told SuperSport.com, “We have been talking about accuracy and our first time tackles and kicking game on the night was very good.

“The Crusaders deserve all the credit for what they have done this season and they are a quality side. They are certainly the pace setters in how they play and the big challenge for us this weekend will be to take another step up against them. We have two good wins behind us and I’ve got a lot of confidence that we will take that step up this weekend.

“The Crusaders have been a team that have let us know every time we’ve played them where we stand. In a game against them doing the small things right is what counts.”

Kirchner will know finally on Wednesday after a final check-up, but if he cannot make it then Jaco van der Westhuyzen will take his place.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Dean Greyling.

Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20  Francois Brummer, 21 Gerhard van den Heever, 22 Derick Kuün