Bulls get Bok boost for Sharks duel

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Johan Goosen will start at fullback for the Vodacom Bulls, and Sbu Nkosi at left wing, against the Sharks in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.

Goosen, who missed a bonus-point win over Benetton on Friday due to injury, returns as one of six changes to the Bulls starting XV for the derby.

Wandisile Simelane makes way for Nkosi, the Springbok speedster also absent from the victory last week after he was reportedly sent home early from the Bulls’ overseas tour for breaking team protocols.

Meanwhile, Cornal Hendricks comes in for Stedman Gans at outside centre, as scrumhalf Zak Burger trades places with Embrose Papier on the wood, where he is joined by Simelane and lock Ruan Vermaak.

In the forwards, No 8 WJ Steenkamp is promoted to the run-on lineup for the injured Elrigh Louw, with Walt Steenkamp and Janko Swanepoel swapping out in the second row.

Bulls – 15 Johan Goosen, 14 David Kriel, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sbu Nkosi, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Marco van Staden, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Ruan Vermaak, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Stravino Jacobs, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

ALSO: Bulls plan to soften Coetzee blow

Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus