Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has selected the “strongest team possible” ahead of his side’s clash with Vodacom United Rugby Championship log leaders DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
By choosing all his available Boks, including 10 Springboks in the starting line up and seven in the pack, along with another four on the bench, Ackermann has had his first chance since taking over the Bulls to put together a side of all the players under contract, with a few caveats.
Kurt-Lee Arendse remains out with concussion, something that is a bit of a concern seeing as it is more than six weeks since he left the Bok camp, Cameron Hanekom continues to struggle with a hamstring tear recovery and Marcell Coetzee is out with a rib injury.
But a starting line-up that includes the current Bok front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw, backed up by Boks Cobus Wiese and Ruan Nortje is an awesome front five. Jeandre Rudolph finds himself the odd non Bok in the camp as he partners with Marco van Staden and “sheriff” Elrigh Louw in the loose trio.
Handre Pollard is partnered by former Stormers halfback Paul de Wet behind the scrum and Canan Moodie’s return from rest means he will slot in at 13, with David Kriel his inside partner. As expected Willie le Roux is at the back, with Sebastian de Klerk and Stravino Jacobs his back three partners.
Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Nizaam Carr and Embrose Papier are the bench Boks while regulars Devon Williams, Rynhardt Ludwig, Ruan Vermaak and Khuta Mchunu make up the rest of the bench.
BEST POSSIBLE TEAM
“Yes, it is our best possible team,” Ackmermann confirmed afterwards.
“Obviously, a player that on a given day can do some great rugby is Kurt-Lee, but he's still out with concussion. Cameron Hanekom obviously is also still out. And then Marcell had a little bit still of a rib injury, but we probably could have played him, but we felt,that Nizaam is playing well at the moment and covers some different positions as well.
So it was a tough decision not to pick Marcell, but we're going into a big block of five games, and he'll definitely play a part. And then we're waiting on Kurt-Lee to pass his concussion protocols. I think it will only be maybe in two weeks' time at the earliest.
“I am not certain what the delay is, because it's a bit technical. And then it's ongoing with Cameron's rehab with his hamstring. I think we've picked a team that we believe can do the job, and hopefully we've got a big challenge tomorrow to play the best side in the competition.”
The Bulls troubles - the five game losing streak - and the Stormers unbeaten run make the Pretoria side massive underdogs for the clash, but Ackermann acknowledges it will be a big challenge for the side, but says they are ready.
STORMERS HOTSTEPPERS A THREAT
Ackermann said the side needs to contain the Stormers’ hotsteppers in their backline and Springbok stars that can easily turn a game.
“It's going to be a big challenge for us, that is one of their strengths, it's not just that they have a great set-piece scrum and we saw what they did on their tour, with Benetton and those teams. But they also have these individual guys that can do something out of nothing.
“If I say this, people are probably going to have a lot to say again, but I mean, we've worked on our defence and we are aware of that, and that we need to contain those individuals, but on the day, that's when it counts. So we need to stay connected and we need to make sure we are alert if we get those soft moments we had against Bordeaux, against the Sharks in the second half, we can't have that again.
“So we need to make sure we cover all the areas and that everybody is alert for 80 minutes.”
WIN WILL BE HUGE FOR BULLS
Ackermann knows a win in Cape Town will be huge for the Bulls fortunes and start talk of a revival after a poor start to the season.
“This is a good time to do it. People must understand, I don't like losing. But then again, there's a bigger picture than rugby.
“I'm there, I believe, and if I'm only there for a short period, so be it. But I'm there to invest in the young men's lives I'm working in, in the guys that I want them to be, off the field, we invest more, if not as much as we invest on the field. I want them to understand what life is about in your marriage, in your children, in life.
“And you know, when you get injured, there's lessons and life lessons we learn and so on. So as much as we want to turn this around, I said to them, this is a step forward. This is a step, you know, you're always going to have challenges in life.
“You're always going to have to overcome obstacles in life. But now we can't keep looking back and keep looking back. Now this is going forward.
“We start with a great opportunity to get things going with playing this quality team. If we can play with that unity and clarity and togetherness and we can get this year off to a good start. Ultimately, you know, I believe men and people can make plans, but God and Jesus Christ are in control of our lives.
“A lot of times we get tested and you have to just keep your faith and keep strong and you will overcome things and you'll look back and you'll just see his faithfulness. So that's all we can control now is the next day and the next moment.We can't worry about the future and we can't worry about the past.”
YOUR team to face the DHL Stormers tomorrow night 🏆
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 2, 2026
⏰ 18:00 | 📍DHL Stadium @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #TheUnbreakableLine pic.twitter.com/Qi7BOndW2J
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Stravino Jacobs; Handre Pollard, Paul de Wet; Jeandre Rudolph, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (captain), Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khuta Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, Rynhard Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Devon Williams.