Springbok Marcell Coetzee will wear the Bulls’ No 8 jersey in the absence of Cameron Hanekom in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final against Leinster on Saturday at Croke Park in Dublin (6 pm kick-off).
Director of rugby Jake White made one enforced change to his side for their second consecutive final of the tournament, with Bok Marco van Staden taking over as flanker and Coetzee making a positional switch. The rest of the starting team is unchanged from the one that defeated the Sharks in the semis last weekend.
2 more sleeps ‘til Croke ⏳🏟️
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There is one change on the bench, with veteran Nizaam Carr taking his place amongst the replacements with Van Staden promoted to the starting XV.
Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen will again be tasked with leading the Bulls’ attacking plays as the form halfback-pairing, while Canan Moodie and Sebastian de Klerk form a potent attacking back-three.
A new winner will be crowned on Saturday, and for the first time, the final will take place outside of South Africa.
Your star-studded Grand Finalists ready to battle 💥
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It’s the third time White and his side will play in the championship match and he will hope the third time is the charm as they chase the elusive crown. They previously lost in the final against the Stormers in Cape Town in the inaugural season, and last year hosted it at Loftus Versfeld, eventually falling to the Glasgow Warriors.
However, they are experienced this time and will be ready for the challenge Leinster presents.
Bulls starting team
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams
