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Pretoria - Flank Shaun Adendorff will make a first start for the Bulls when they take on Stormers in the final game of the home side’s campaign in this year's Super Rugby competition.
Adendorff has played off the bench twice and will take over from Ruan Steenkamp, with the latter swapping places with Adendorff and moving to the bench.
This swap is one of two in the pack that came up short against the Kings last weekend. In the other, Pierre Schoeman earns a start at loosehead, with Lizo Gqoboko out with a niggle. The bench will see the return of Piet van Zyl as back-up scrumhalf and Trevor Nyakane as back-up prop.
Bulls coach, Nollis Marais, was adamant that his side still had a lot to play for, despite them missing the playoffs.
“We are playing the Stormers at Loftus. This remains one of the biggest games for this team and nothing has changed about that. Yes, we are out of the running, but that does not mean that we do not want to win this one. We will really be chasing the win,” he said.
Marais also had special praise for Jan Serfontein and Tian Schoeman, who will both play their last matches for the team before leaving for France.
“Both have done us proud and it is always a sad day to see top class players leave. But that is part of professional sport and something that all teams have to deal with at one stage or another. We certainly hope to see them off with a bang on Saturday.”
Bulls captain, Adriaan Strauss, felt the team can still make a statement against the Stormers.
“We certainly owe them one following our defeat in the opening week. We are a proud team and want to leave the field with our heads held high. We also need to snap the losing streak at home and what better way than beating the Stormers at Loftus.”
Teams:
Bulls
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Duncan Mathews, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Nick de Jager, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Piet Van Zyl, 22 Tony Jantjies, 23 Burger Odendaal
Stormers
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Juan de Jongh, 23 Dan Kriel
