The Vodacom Blue Bulls welcomes back Springboks Francois Hougaard, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Flip van der Merwe for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

All three played for the Springboks against Australia at Vodacom Park in the final leg of their Tri-Nations fixtures last weekend, but will don the Light Blue with the Barberton daisy on the chest this time around.

They are part of the six changes coach Frans Ludeke made to the starting line-up that conquered the Natal Sharks at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. Hougaard replaces Ruan Snyman; Van der Merwe comes in for Fudge Mabeta and Ralepelle for Bandise Maku.

The other changes will be at centre, where Stefan Watermeyer replaces Wynand Olivier (Bok-contract), CJ Stander comes in for injured Dewald Potgieter and Werner Kruger returns ahead of Frik Kirsten.

The bench also see some changes with Gary Botha back after his knee injury, Okkie Kruger coming in for Stander and Stephan Dippenaar for Watermeyer.

Ludeke said it is great having some of his international players back.

“All three will have to make a significant contribution to our effort and we are keen to have them back in the team. Matches against the Cheetahs are always very tight and we will focus on the small battles. If we dominate that, we will put ourselves in a good position to win the match.”

The Vodacom Blue Bulls team to play Free State on Saturday September 11th, 2010 at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein at 17h05 is:

Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Stefan Watermeyer, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Francois Hougaard, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, CJ Stander, Derick Kuün (c), Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Gary Botha, Rossouw de Klerk, Jaco Engels, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Okkie Kruger, Dustin Jinka, Stephan Dippenaar.

Leading points scorers for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the 2010 competition are:
Jacques-Louis Potgieter 121
Dean Greyling 20
John Mametsa 20
Gerhard van den Heever 20