The Bulls have announced a strong team to face the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday, but it also includes a surprise or two.

In the first place, it is a welcome return for Bakkies Botha in the No 4 jersey, with Danie Rossouw relegated to the bench and probably the unluckiest player, Flip van der Merwe the unfortunate one to lose out on the match day 22.

Secondly, Jacques-Louis Potgieter has been selected at outside centre in view of the injury to Jaco Pretorius. One would have expected Jacques-Louis Potgieter to slot in at inside centre with Wynand Olivier at outside centre, this being the way they played this past weekend against the Lions, with tremendous success, after Jaco’s injury.

In related news, Francois Hougaard is back at left wing after Akona Ndungane’s freak leg-break, whilst the old stalwart, John (Sello) Mametsa is back at the Vodacom Blue Bulls for their semi’final against the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup.

Here is a slice of the full news release by the Bulls:

Jacques-Louis Potgieter will start a match for the Vodacom Bulls for the first time against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Potgieter, who made nine appearances as a substitute already this year, replaces the injured Jaco Pretorius in one of five changes in the starting line up from the side that beat the Lions 51-11 last weekend.

Potgieter will start in the midfield with Wynand Olivier, his fellow former Afrikaans Boys High School pupil.

“I have been waiting for this for ten weeks now, so I cannot wait to take on the Sharks,” Potgieter said.

“I am very keen to use the opportunity and grab my chance.”

Bakkies Botha resumes his locking partnership with Victor Matfield in his first appearance for the year after recovering from Achilles surgery.

He replaces Danie Rossouw, who moves to the bench, as will Derick Kuün in a rotational switch with Deon Stegmann. Fourie du Preez is also back as scrum half and replaces Heini Adams. John Mametsa and Flip van der Merwe misses out altogether.

Francois Hougaard recovered from the hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Lions match and will start at left wing, while regular team member, Stephan Dippenaar, who played for the Blue Bulls in a Vodacom Cup quarter-final match last weekend, warms the bench.

The team (with caps) is: Zane Kirchner (36), Gerhard van den Heever (14), , Jacques-Louis Potgieter (27), Wynand Olivier (67), Francois Hougaard (12), Morné Steyn (69), Fourie du Preez (95), Pierre Spies (52), Dewald Potgieter (27), Deon Stegmann (35), Victor Matfield (105), Bakkies Botha (83), Werner Kruger (38), Gary Botha (69), Gurthrö Steenkamp (62). Replacements: Bandise Maku (16), Bees Roux (26), Danie Rossouw (98), Derick Kuün (51), Heini Adams (34), Stephan Dippenaar (9), Pedrie Wannenburg (108).

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