Bulls boosted by Coetzee’s timely return

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Marcell Coetzee will return to lead the Bulls in their Currie Cup semi-final clash with Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

The Bulls captain last featured in the side’s 56-33 win over the Griquas in the round-robin stages of the competition.

Coetzee replaces WJ Steenkamp as one of four changes to the starting XV that beat the Cheetahs in the final-round match this past weekend.

These changes include the rotation of Schalk Erasmus, wearing the No 2 jersey this week in place of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who will provide hooker cover from the bench.

In the backline, Harold Vorster returns to partner up with Lionel Mapoe in the midfield. Cornal Hendricks, who played at centre last week, shifts to wing where he replaces Kurt-Lee Arendse. At scrumhalf, Zak Burger will earn a starting berth to form the familiar halfback pairing with Johan Goosen.

Bulls director of rugby Jake White said ahead of the semi-final encounter: “The knockout stages of the Currie Cup are always a notch or two higher in intensity and competitiveness. That will certainly be the case against a determined Western Province side this week.

“This week our group of players have been working hard to ensure that we are prepared physically and mentally for what lies ahead. Thankfully, we have a number of players in this group who have been at this stage of the competition before. We will rely on each of them to put their bodies on the line this week against quality opposition.”

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

Photo: Archive

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SA Rugby magazine