Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer has brought Bryan Habana back and he will start on the wing against the Stormers. Francois van Schouwenburg has been promoted to the starting line up at the expense of Bakkies Botha.
Akona Ndungane has been dropped to the bench for no apparent reason and Frikkie Welsh strangely gets the Number 11 jersey which is normally Habana’s.
Last week the Bulls were given a Rugby lesson by the Crusaders so they will want to bounce back with a good win.
For a semi final place the Bulls need the Crusaders to win without the Brumbies getting a point. They also need the Sharks to lose to the Force without the Sharks getting a point.
Even if these two results go their way the Bulls will need a big win to rise above the Sharks on points differential. Last year the result of this match was 75-14 but it was at Loftus so the Stormers will have a point to prove.
In reality though the South African teams will be playing for pride and bragging rights on who finished higher on the Super 14 table in 2006 which can now only be the Bulls or the Sharks.
Whatever happens the Cats will be the last South African team on the table in 2006.
Bulls
15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen
14 Bryan Habana
13 JP Nel
12 Wynand Olivier
11 Frikkie Welsh
10 Morn’ Steyn
9 Fourie du Preez
8 Pedrie Wannenburg
7 Tim Dlulane
6 Jacques Cronje
5 Victor Matfield
4 Francois van Schouwenburg
3 Danie Thiart
2 Gary Botha
1 Wessel Roux
Reserves
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Jaco Engels
18 Danie Rossouw
19 Pierre Spies
20 Bakkies Botha
21 Heini Adams
22 Akona Ndungane