Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka will captain a much-changed Vodacom Bulls side against the Lions in Wednesday’s Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg.

Gqoboka is one of only two Bulls players to retain their starting XV spot from last week’s bonus-point victory to end the Sharks’ unbeaten run in the competition.

Veteran flyhalf Morne Steyn has been dropped to the bench as a youthful Bulls outfit travel south of the Jukskei for this week’s domestic derby at Ellis Park. 

“We are very fortunate to have a number of players with great leadership qualities in the Bulls squad, and Lizo has been one of those senior players who have always provided leadership in both the Currie Cup and the URC,” Bulls coach Gert smal said. “We look forward to him, alongside Stedman Gans as vice-captain, leading this exciting team on Wednesday.

“We are pleased that we are able to give a few of our more youthful players an opportunity this week, be it in the starting lineup or on the bench. We have no doubt that we have a tough challenge ahead of us against a Lions team that will be motivated and will be tough opponents on Wednesday night.

“We will need to be at our best and will need to execute the plans we have been working hard on in the buildup to the match well.”

Bulls – 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Werner Gouws, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (c).
Subs: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 James Verity-Amm.