Goosen cracks nod at flyhalf for Bulls' Ellis Park battle against Zebre

Springbok Johan Goosen will start at flyhalf for the Bulls when they tackle Italian outfit Zebre in a URC clash at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

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Goosen will get his first Bulls start in the URC since recovering from a shoulder operation seven weeks ago. Chris Smith will provide flyhalf cover on the bench. 

Embrose Papier is Goosen's halfback partner, with Keagan Johannes the scrumhalf reserve. 

Elsewhere in the backline, Stedman Gans comes in at outside centre with Cornal Hendricks on the bench.

The forward pack that started in the 33-9 Champions Cup defeat to Toulouse on 2 April is unchanged.

Saturday's clash at Ellis Park kicks off at 13:00. As part of a double-header of URC action, the Lions also tackle Leinster at the same ground at 16:00.

Next weekend, the four teams will move to Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where the Lions will tackle Zebre and the Bulls duel Leinster.

Bulls team:

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 Mornay Smith

Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks