Kurt-Lee Arendse can still offer Bulls a lot in the rain, says Jake White

Cape Town - Despite the slippery conditions expected in Parma, Bulls coach Jake White believes that fleet-footed fullback Kurt-Lee Arendse can still make a major impact in tonight’s United Rugby Championship clash against Zebre.

The former Blitzboks star was reinstated at No 15 yesterday after missing the Sharks match two weeks ago due to a shoulder injury, with David Kriel sitting out of the trip to Italy.

Arendse hasn’t quite fired for the Bulls at the back as he has at left wing previously, and injuries and other issues have hampered his progress during the United Rugby Championship.

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White, though, is confident that the 25-year-old former University of the Western Cape speedster can handle the tricky conditions tonight.

“It’s going to rain. The one thing Zebre do a lot is that they kick quite long, into your half, which allows a guy like Kurt-Lee to get the ball with lots of space. And hopefully – even if it is raining – he’s still got good footwork and is still dangerous on the counter-attack,” White said.

“So, if they play like that – hopefully it doesn’t rain – we can have the best of him. But if it does rain, I still think he can offer us a lot ... the fact that he’s very good in broken play. It will be nice to see his ability to actually counter-attack from the back.”

Arendse will have a key ally in scrumhalf Embrose Papier, who is also back at No 9 after playing off the bench in the 29-22 loss to the Sharks.

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White was delighted with the impact Papier made in the second half at Loftus, and wants him and reserve scrumhalf Keagan Johannes to take on