Bulls recall hometown hero for URC decider

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Cape-born fullback Kurt-Lee Arendse will start for the Vodacom Bulls against the Stormers when the two sides clash in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship final on Saturday. 

He replaces David Kriel in the starting XV, with Canan Moodie shifting from No 15 to right wing for the clash at Cape Town Stadium.

Arendse was sensational for the Bulls before he was sidelined with a fractured thumb, but returned off the bench in the dramatic URC semi-final win against Leinster in Ireland on Friday.

Kriel, who was an injury concern in the buildup this week after suffering a blow to the head on Friday, drops to the bench.

The Bulls, who were sitting in 15th position on the log table at the start of the year, managed a gradual but crucial progression over the past few months which culminated in the massive victory over Leinster, a first win for a SA team in Ireland.

The Stormers booked a spot in the final with a victory over another Irish side, Ulster, in Cape Town, to set up a north-south SA derby to crown the first-ever URC champions.

“After weeks out and Kurt-Lee came straight back against Leinster and it’s like he’s never been out. It’s great to have him back and he’ll be playing back home and in front of his family,” said Bulls director of rugby Jake White.

“It’s been an incredible season in our first one participating in the United Rugby Championship. We have measured ourselves against some of the best sides and players in the world.

“So, to be able to play in the final is an incredible feat. I am very proud of the Bulls players, coaches and staff for the hard work and role they played in getting this far.

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“We are up against a deserving and strong Stormers side that has shown throughout the season how competitive and hungry for success they are. We expect another tough challenge against a team we have not managed to beat this season.”

The Stormers swept the Bulls in the regular season, a win at home in March following a last-gasp victory for the Capetonians at Loftus Versfeld earlier in the campaign.

Captain Marcell Coetzee added: “It’s not so much about revenge [for the two earlier defeats], but a final will be personal on both fronts and it’s always 50/50 on the day. We will approach the final with the humility and respect it deserves.

“Our job is not done yet, there’s still a lot for us to fix. Our plan worked to perfection but then we let Leinster back in the game at the end. But the Stormers were able to keep their composure towards the end of a tight contest.”

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

White and Bulls: a match made in heaven

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Devin Hermanus