Lock RG Snyman returns to the Blue Bulls starting XV as one of three changes ahead of Friday's match against the EP Kings in Pretoria.

Snyman was injured while playing for SA A against the England Saxons in June and returned with a cameo off the Bulls bench against the Cheetahs last week. He will start against the Kings at Loftus in round three in place of Jason Jenkins, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a knee-ligament injury.

Lizo Gqoboko is fit again and starts at loosehead prop in place of Pierre Schoeman, who shifts to the bench.

Coach Nollis Marais made one swap in the backline, where Duncan Matthews replaces Ulrich Beyers at fullback.

On the bench, Jacobie Adriaanse could make a first appearance and Irne Herbst will fill the vacant spot left by Snyman’s promotion.

Blue Bulls – 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboko.
Subs: 16 Edgar Maruthlulle, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 Hanro Liebenberg, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Joshua Stander.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images