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Dunedin - The Bulls were forced into a late change to their backline and bench on Thursday when Akona Ndungane pulled a hamstring during the team's captains run ahead of their Super Rugby match against the Highlanders in the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.
Ndungane's place will be taken by Francois Hougaard, who was picked at scrumhalf for this match. Piet van Zyl moves up from the bench to start at scrumhalf. Van Zyl's place on the bench will be taken by Ulrich Beyers.
It will be Van Zyl's first start at scrumhalf since he moved from the Cheetahs at the end of last season.
The match will also see Werner Kruger becoming the 10th Bulls player to reach a century of Super Rugby caps for the team.
The other centurions for the franchise are Bakkies Botha (100), Akona Ndungane (102), Pierre Spies (103), Wynand Olivier (108), Fourie du Preez (112), Pedrie Wannenburg (113), Danie Rossouw (116), Victor Matfield (122) and Morné Steyn (123).
Kick-off for Friday's game is at 09:35 (SA time).
Teams:
Highlanders:
15. Ben Smith (captain), 14. Richard Buckman, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12. Shaun Treeby, 11. Patrick Osborne, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Elliot Dixon, 7. Shane Christie, 6. Gareth Evans, 5. Joe Wheeler, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Chris King, 2. Liam Coltman, 1. Kane Hames
Substitutes: 16. Ged Robinson, 17. Craig Millar, 18. Ma’afu Fia, 19. Jarrad Hoeata, 20. John Hardie, 21. Fumiaki Tanaka, 22. Trent Renata, 23. Nasi Manu
Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 J J Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe (captain), 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi , 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Morné Mellett, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht,21 Handré Pollard, 22 William Small-Smith,23 Ulrich Beyers
Ndungane's place will be taken by Francois Hougaard, who was picked at scrumhalf for this match. Piet van Zyl moves up from the bench to start at scrumhalf. Van Zyl's place on the bench will be taken by Ulrich Beyers.
It will be Van Zyl's first start at scrumhalf since he moved from the Cheetahs at the end of last season.
The match will also see Werner Kruger becoming the 10th Bulls player to reach a century of Super Rugby caps for the team.
The other centurions for the franchise are Bakkies Botha (100), Akona Ndungane (102), Pierre Spies (103), Wynand Olivier (108), Fourie du Preez (112), Pedrie Wannenburg (113), Danie Rossouw (116), Victor Matfield (122) and Morné Steyn (123).
Kick-off for Friday's game is at 09:35 (SA time).
Teams:
Highlanders:
15. Ben Smith (captain), 14. Richard Buckman, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12. Shaun Treeby, 11. Patrick Osborne, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Elliot Dixon, 7. Shane Christie, 6. Gareth Evans, 5. Joe Wheeler, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Chris King, 2. Liam Coltman, 1. Kane Hames
Substitutes: 16. Ged Robinson, 17. Craig Millar, 18. Ma’afu Fia, 19. Jarrad Hoeata, 20. John Hardie, 21. Fumiaki Tanaka, 22. Trent Renata, 23. Nasi Manu
Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 J J Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe (captain), 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi , 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Morné Mellett, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht,21 Handré Pollard, 22 William Small-Smith,23 Ulrich Beyers
