Bulls add Springbok duo for All Blacks clash

The Bulls have received a late boost ahead of Saturday’s clash with the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld, with Springboks Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar added to the matchday squad.

Both forwards have been released from the national camp to gain valuable game time before Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series begins.

Elrigh Louw and Grobbelaar Join Bulls

Louw and Grobbelaar returned from Argentina following the Springboks’ 17-10 victory over Los Pumas and have had only one training session with the Bulls since rejoining the Pretoria squad.

Head coach Johan Ackermann has therefore named both players among the replacements rather than bringing them directly into the starting XV. Their inclusion adds further international experience to a Bulls side preparing for one of its biggest fixtures of the season.

Bulls Make Two Bench Changes

Grobbelaar comes into the matchday 23 as the replacement hooker, with Jaundre Schoeman dropping out of the squad.

Louw takes the loose-forward bench position previously occupied by Mpilo Gumede, strengthening the Bulls’ options for the closing stages against New Zealand.

Captain Marcell Coetzee leads the hosts, while Willie le Roux, Curwin Bosch, Hanro Liebenberg and Embrose Papier provide further experience across the team.

Bulls XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vortster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.

Reserves: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.