The Bulls have named 14 former winners in the defending champion’s starting lineup for Saturday’s Super 14 semifinal against the Crusaders in Soweto.
The Pretoria-based Bulls, two-time winners, reverted to their strongest possible team on Tuesday after fielding an understrength outfit for the final round of regular season games.
Captain Victor Matfield, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and flyhalf Morne Steyn were all recalled after they were rested against the Stormers as the Bulls brought back 14 first choice players.
Matfield will play his 100th Super rugby game for the Bulls, following fellow forwards Danie Rossouw and Pedrie Wannenburg who made their 100th appearances earlier in the season.
Former Springboks No. 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen has replaced wing Gerhard van den Heever. Van den Heever, the Bulls’ leading tryscorer with eight tries, was suspended for two weeks for a spear tackle against the Crusaders in the penultimate round of the regular season. He will be available for the final if the Bulls qualify.
Jaco Pretorius returns from injury to partner Wynand Olivier at centre. Deon Stegmann will start in the No. 6 jersey after being rotated with Derick Kuun throughout the season.
Lock Bakkies Botha was not included after he was suspended for four weeks on Tuesday for entering a ruck in a dangerous manner just minutes into Saturday’s loss to the Stormers.
The Bulls have played seven-time champions in the semifinals three times in the past four seasons, winning twice at home and losing once in New Zealand.
The Bulls said tickets for the historic game at Soweto’s 40 000-seater Orlando Stadium sold out in a few hours on Monday morning.
The last four matchup is the first major rugby match in South Africa’s most famous township, which the Bulls chose to host the semifinal and a possible final after their Loftus Versfeld stadium was handed over in preparation for the Soccer World Cup.
Soweto will celebrate its most famous sporting day with the nearby Soccer City stadium, venue for the 2010 World Cup final, set to be opened earlier Saturday with the Nedbank Cup final between Amazulu and Bidvest Wits. — Sapa