Jake tweaks Bulls for Dragons duel

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Kurt-Lee Arendse shifts to fullback, while Wandisile Simelane and Bismarck du Plessis have been recalled as Jake White made several changes to the Vodacom Bulls team to face the Dragons on Friday.

Arendse replaces Johan Goosen, who drops to the bench, in one of several tweaks to the Bulls backline from the Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby defeat to the Sharks last week.

Simelane, who has featured mostly at No 15 and wing after joining the Bulls from the Lions in the off-season, starts at outside centre for the URC clash at Rodney Parade.

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He will partner Harold Vorster in midfield, while David Kriel starts at left wing with Canan Moodie shifting to the right, as Zak Burger replaces Bernard van der Linde – who has been dropped altogether – in the No 9 jersey.

On the return of Simelane at No 13, scrum coach Werner Kruger said: “Wandi is an exciting player, it will be good to see him at outside centre and we are all looking forward to seeing what he brings to the midfield on match day.”

The front row remains the same, with the only switch taking place between prop Gerard Steenekamp and Simphiwe Matanzima, who swap jerseys.

The replacements see the addition of Du Plessis, who comes into the matchday 23 with Jan-Hendrik Wessels missing out due to a niggle. Scrumhalf Embrose Papier returns to the matchday 23 to take a place on the wood with veteran utility back Cornal Hendricks.

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“We weren’t our best against the Sharks. So, if we can get things right – controlling the controllable – play the conditions right, pitch up with good intent and physicality and then our game drivers take control of the kicking battle and take us into the right areas of the field, then the battle will take care of itself,” Kruger added.

“[Dragons] are doing well at home; they are a strong mauling side with lots of good carriers in the likes of Ross Moriarty in their pack, so we will have to do a number up front.

“Playing away from home, it is tough to get the maul going but we will have to front up and when we have the opportunities, we must make the most of them.

“Likewise when they have the ball in hand, we are going to have to man up and get in their faces and stop them. I think this is the only way you really can get a result away from home, when you get in your opponent’s face and you really get physical with them.”

Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus