The Vodacom Bulls will have no less than 14 Springboks in their touring group for this weekend’s Investec Champions’ Cup Round of 16 match against Glasgow Warriors.
While the only casualty from this weekend’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship win over Munster was No 8 Nizaam Carr, who hobbled off with a hamstring injury, the Bulls will take a strong squad over to Scotland, which is followed by two URC games against Dragons and Scarlets respectively over the next two weeks.
Springbok strongman Wilco Louw is not on the tour because of family reasons, while Akker van der Merwe is still undergoing rehab after a neck operation and will also stay behind.
But the touring party also has some forgotten faces, with Keagan Johannes backing up Handre Pollard at flyhalf, former SA under-20 captain JF van Heeden included and speedster Katlego Letebele in the side as an outside centre.
Saturday’s try scorer Cheswill Jooste will be on the trip, while others like Celimpilo Gumede and Reinhardt Ludwig make a comeback into the touring squad.
The Springboks are Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Willie le Roux.
TOURING SQUAD
1. Gerhard Steenekamp/Alulutho Tshakweni/Jan-Hendrik Wessels
2. Johan Grobbelaar/Marco van Staden
3. Mornay Smith/Francois Klopper/Khuta Mchunu
4. Ruan Vermaak/Cobus Wiese
5. Ruan Nortje/Reinhardt Ludwig/JF van Heerden
6. Marcell Coetzee/Jeandre Rudolph
7. Elrigh Louw/Mpilo Gumede
8. Cameron Hanekom
9. Embrose Papier/Paul de Wet/Zak Burger
10. Handre Pollard/Keagan Johannes
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse/ Sergeal Petersen
12. Harold Vorster/Stedman Gans
13. Canan Moodie/Katlego Letebele
14. Cheswill Jooste/Devon Williams
15. David Kriel/Willie le Roux
UNAVAILABLE
Akker vd Merwe, Nizaam Carr, Wilco Louw.