The Vodacom Bulls have made three changes to their team that will take on Zebre Parma in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship round-10 match on Friday night.

In a forced change following the suspension of experienced pivot Morne Steyn, who will miss the next three Bulls matches, the reliable Chris Smith earns a starting berth in the No 10 jersey.

He will form a halfback pairing with Embrose Papier, who is promoted from the bench in the side’s previous match against the Lions a fortnight ago.

The versatile Kurt-Lee Arendse makes his way back into the starting XV at fullback, forming a formidable back trio with the experienced Cornal Hendricks and explosive Madosh Tambwe, the starting wings.

Continuity among the forwards reigns with no changes in the starting pack.

“We are looking forward to being back in action in the URC, following a week’s break after our previous match against the Sharks,” Bulls director of rugby Jake White said.

“We are expecting a tough challenge against Zebre Parma, in their own backyard at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. We are looking forward to an entertaining game of rugby, with our aim, of course, being an effort to return home with another overseas win under our belts.”

The match will kick off at 7:30pm. The match will be televised on SuperSport.

Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Canan Moodie.

Photo: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix