Wandisile Simelane will continue his growth as a fullback when he starts for a strong Vodacom Bulls XV against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.

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The team, coached by Gert Smal, will be led by seasoned Springbok veterans Morne Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis as captain and deputy, respectively.

Simelane, who recently joined the Bulls from across the Jukskei, starts in a new fullback position where he will be looking to assert himself.

The starting lineup is packed with players with Vodacom United Rugby Championship and Currie Cup experience, including wing Stravino Jacobs, centres Marco Jansen van Vuuren and Chris Smit, loose forwards Muller Uys and Phumzile Maqondwana, lock Ruan Vermaak and props Jacques van Rooyen and Dylan Smith.

Bulls XV – 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Izzy Novuka, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuuren, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morne Steyn (c), 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Raynhard Mouton, 5 Ruan Vermaak, 4 Merwe Olivier, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Wiehan Bezuidenhout, 18 Mhleli Dlamini, 19 Juan van der Westhuizen, 20 Abulele Ndabambi, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 FC du Plessis.

Meanwhile, Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie announced his team for the first encounter, with five players making their debut: Munier Hartzenberg, Friedle Olivier, Roelof Smit, Mzwanele Zito and replacement hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg.

Cheetahs – 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Subs: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Marnus van der Merwe, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 David Britz, 23 Cohen Jasper.

Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images