Bulls hit by fresh injury blows ahead of Leinster URC clash at Loftus
Bulls centre Jan Serfontein will miss the match against Leinster with a shoulder injury.
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The Vodacom Bulls’ wretched luck with injuries continues, with backs Jan Serfontein and Cheswill Jooste both ruled out of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Leinster in Pretoria.
Springbok Serfontein sustained a shoulder injury in the opening-round win against the Ospreys, while Jooste was sidelined with a hamstring strain in the same game.
Their absence has forced coach Johan Ackermann into a backline reshuffle, with experienced centre Harold Vorster replacing Serfontein, Sebastian de Klerk shifting to right wing, and Stravino Jacobs starting on the left.
In the pack, Cobus Wiese’s head injury assessment last weekend sees Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, who impressed in cover, handed a start, with Sintu Manjezi named on the bench.
The Bulls are currently grappling with a lengthy injury list that also includes Sti Sithole, Akker van der Merwe, Ruan Vermaak, Jaco Grobbelaar, Jannes Kirsten, Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Jeandré Rudolph, Johan Goosen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Katlego Letebele and Aphiwe Dyantyi.
The remainder of the Bulls’ forward pack remains unchanged after a strong showing against the Welsh side. But they will need to be at their best to withstand defending champions Leinster, who arrive stung by their heavy defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town.
Ackermann admitted that his side lacked polish in their opening fixture, but said he had confidence in their growth. Match fitness, he added, remains a work in progress, though he expects sharpness to improve as the competition unfolds.
Saturday’s clash is the Bulls’ final fixture before embarking on a demanding tour of Ireland and Scotland – a notoriously tough stretch of the season.
Bulls team for Leinster:
15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 N Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.