URC double-header at Loftus: Bulls name unchanged 23 for Leinster duel, Kriel set for Lions farewell
The Bulls and Lions teams have been named for Saturday's double-header of URC matches at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.In the curtain-raiser at 13:00, the Lions will tackle Italian outfit Zebre before the Bulls entertain Leinster in the main match at 16:00.Bulls director of rugby Jake White has picked the same 23-man squad that crushed Zebre 78-12 at Ellis Park last weekend.The Bulls are seventh on the URC standings on 47 points and will look to finish as high as possible in order to have an 'easier' quarter-final.15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard SteenekampSubstitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal HendricksMeanwhile, Lions flanker Jaco Kriel is set to play his final professional game.
The Lions, who lost 39-36 to Leinster at home last weekend, are 12th on the standings and already out of quarter-final contention.READ | Coach hails Kriel ahead of Lions farewell: 'What a career ...
I don't think he can regret one day'In other team news, speedster Rabz Maxwane returns to the starting XV in place of Stean Pienaar and Ruan Venter comes in at flank for Ruan Delport.Loose forward Emmanuel Tshituka is back on the bench after suspension, while reserve scrumhalf Morne van den Berg is set to play his 50th cap for the Lions across all competitions.15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7