Bulls ring changes for Benetton battle: Bismarck at hooker, Smith in for Goosen at flyhalf

Bulls director of rugby Jake White has made several changes to his team for Friday's URC clash against Benetton in Italy.

The Bulls are under pressure to avoid losing all three of their tour games, having lost 35-21 to Glasgow Warriors and 31-17 to Munster.

White has made several changes to the team that lost 31-17 to Munster in Limerick last weekend.

Most notably, Bismarck du Plessis gets a starting role at hooker in place of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who drops to the bench.

Chris Smith is also backed at No 10 in place of Johan Goosen. Goosen drops out of the match-day 23, with Morne Steyn coming in on the bench as flyhalf cover.

Elsewhere in the backline, David Kriel replaced Cornal Hendricks at right wing and Stedman Gans comes in for Lionel Mapoe at outside centre.

Up front, Marco van Staden takes the No 7 jersey from WJ Steenkamp and Janko Swanepoel is picked at lock in place of Walt Steenkamp. WP and Walt feature on the bench.

White has also picked a new front row, with props Gerhard Steenekamp and Francois Klopper replacing Simphiwe Matanzima and Francois Klopper respectively.

Friday's clash at the Stadio Monigo kicks off at 18:30 (SA time).

Bulls team:

15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Marco van Staden, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Janko Swanepoel, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Substitutes: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Walt Steenkamp, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stravino Jacobs