Pretoria - Springbok Chiliboy Ralepelle will start at hooker for the Bulls in place of the injured Gary Botha while experienced midfielder Jaco Pretorius returns from a lower back injury for their Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Due to Botha’s shoulder injury, Derick Kuun will be utilised as reserve hooker.
Danie Rossouw returns to the squad, albeit among the replacements, while Jaco van der Westhuyzen makes way on the bench for Stephan Dippenaar whose place in the run-on side is filled by Pretorius.
Teams
Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morne 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. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Gurthro Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Derick Kuun, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Danie Rossouw, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Stephan Dippenaar
Cheetahs:
TBA