Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon returned to the New South Wales starting lineup for Saturday’s Super 12 rugby semifinal in an indication that the Waratahs’ pack aims to muscle up against the Bulls.
Cannon was favoured to Adam Freier, with Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie opting for superior skills in the set pieces to match the big Bulls forward pack.
It was the only change to the starting lineup that rounded off the regular season with a 25-20 win over Auckland, finishing second in the standings.
Injured lock Alex Kanaar was bracketed with Will Caldwell in the reserves, pending an assessment of the foot injury that sidelined him last week.
The Bulls are on a six-match winning streak, including a 75-14 demolition of the Stormers in the last match that helped them jump into third place on the competition ladder.
Despite the recent run, the Bulls have only recorded one win on Australian soil in the Super 12 format and has never reached the semi-finals.
Springbok locks Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield lead a large pack looking to bounce back from their last match against the Waratahs — a 42-12 loss in Sydney in round five.
Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer said his backline had become much more settled since the heavy defeat on March 26 and could match the individual attacking flair of the Waratahs backs if the South African forwards gave them good ball, going forward.
Four-time champion Canterbury edged the Waratahs for No. 1 after the regular season and will host a semifinal against Wellington on Friday.
Lineups:
Waratahs: Mat Rogers, Peter Hewat, Morgan Turinui, Nathan Grey, Lote Tuqiri, Lachlan MacKay, Chris Whitaker (captain); David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Daniel Vickerman, Justin Harrison, Alastair Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning. Reserves: Cameron Shepherd, Shaun Berne, Chris O’Young, Stephen Hoiles, Will Caldwell/Al Kanaar, Gareth Hardy, Adam Freier.
Bulls: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Ettiene Botha, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyne, Fourie de Preez; Anton Leonard (captain), Pedrie Wannenburg, Jacques Cronje, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Richard Bands, Gary Botha, Kees Lensing. Reserves: Danie Coetzee, Wessel Roux, Danie Roussow, Warren Brosnihan, Heini Adams, Kennedy Tsimba, Wynand Oliver. – Sapa-AP