THURSDAY, 11.45AM:
THE Northern Bulls have made six changes to the side that will clash with the Auckland Blues in a Super-12 match at Pukekohe on Friday.
Three of the changes are forced, with Ian Macdonald suspended after raking an opponent last week, Franco Smith nursing an injury, and centre Andre Snyman back in South Africa after the death of his father.
Schutte Bekker replaces Macdonald at flank, Nicky van der Walt will take his place at the back of the scrum, giving the hooking position to utility forward Jannie Brooks.
Braam van Straaten will cover Smith’s position at flyhalf, while reserve scrumhalf Conrad Breytenbach will fill in at centre for Snyman. Big Elandre van den Bergh will lock the scrum in the place of Jahan Otto.
Meanwhile, Springbok prop Os du Randt will undergo surgery on Thursday for damage to cartilage in his knee, and will miss the remainder of the Golden Cats’ Super-12 matches.
Two other Free State and Cats players, Willie Meyer and Rassie Erasmus may be fit to play the Queensland Reds on May 3. Erasmus, the livewire Springbok flanker who broke his jaw six weeks ago, will play for the Free State Cheetahs in a Vodacom Cup match next week.
Tighthead prop Meyer plays against Boland for the Cheetahs this weekend and should be up to Super-12 fitness by the beginning of May.