Vodacom Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has named a powerhouse team for the Investec Champions Cup clash against Bristol Bears at Loftus Versfeld.
10 Springboks have been named for the fixture in Pretoria, with lock Ruan Nortje captaining the team from the second row alongside fellow Bok Cobus Wiese.
The Bulls head into the match off the back of six successive defeats, which includes back-to-back defeats in the opening two rounds of the Champions Cup.
10 Boks start for Bulls
Ackermann’s charges will be desperate to notch up a win to stay alive in the competition and end the run of losses, but face an in-form Bristol Bears outfit brimming with confidence.
The Bulls have a full tight five of Springboks in the starting lineup with Jan-Hendrik Wessels packing down at loosehead prop with hooker Johan Grobbelaar and tighthead Wilco Louw.
Fellow internationals Marco van Staden and Elrigh Louw start on the flanks, with the tireless Jeandre Rudolph packing down at number eight, and he is the only non-Test player in the run-on pack.
Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard combine in the halfbacks, the former putting in a man-of-the-match performance last week in the defeat to the Stormers.
Canan Moodie has been ruled out of the match due to concussion protocols, meaning that Harold Vorster and David Kriel reunite in the centres. Kurt-Lee Arendse remains sidelined due to his head injury.
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Stravino Jacobs and Sebastian de Klerk are the starting wingers once again, with veteran Bok Willie Le Roux retained at full-back.
Ackermann has opted for the conventional 5-3 split on the bench, which includes Akker van der Merwe, Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith, who cover the front row positions.
Ruan Vermaak and Mpilo Gumede complete the five forwards with Zak Burger, Stedman Gans and Sergeal Petersen covering the backs.
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Bulls team v Bristol Bears
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 15:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Rozier (Fra), Benjamin Hernandez (Fra)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)
How to watch: Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / SuperSport / FloRugby
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