Bulls loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg will become the most capped Bulls player in Super rugby when he takes the field against the Western Force in Perth on Friday.
Wannenburg, who was selected as flank alongside Wikus van Heerden, will surpass Victor Matfield’s record of 77 matches for the franchise.
Wannenburg made his debut for the Bulls in 2002 against the Brumbies and later that year he played in his first Test for South Africa against France.
Coach Frans Ludeke has picked the same starting XV as the one that came close to beating the Blues in Auckland last weekend, but has made one change on the bench where loosehead prop Jaco Engels comes in for Hilton Lobberts. There are again five forwards on the Bulls bench.
Engels, who was suspended for three matches, flew over to Australia last weekend as a replacement for Dewald Potgieter. His presence on the bench means the Bulls can send on a new front row in the second half if Ludeke so decides. – Sapa
Team:
Bulls: Zane Kirchner; Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez (capt.); Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg, Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha, Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp Replacements: Bandise Maku, Werner Kruger, Jaco Engels, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Heini Adams, Morné Steyn, Deon Stegmann.