By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Suresh Rajcoomar// Fullview.
The Vodacom Bulls have selected 11 Springbok internationals in their starting XV, as they look to put past disappointments behind them and be crowned champions of the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Bulls have reached the URC decider for the fourth time in five seasons but are still chasing their first title.
The rest of the front row is Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp, both Boks in their own right, with Ruan Vermaak and Bok workhorse Ruan Nortje behind them, backed by a back row of captain Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom.
Embrose Papier has a chance to cement his exceptional season with Handre Pollard as his halfback partner while Harold Vorster and Canan Moodie are the midfield, with Willie le Roux the rock at the back with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Stravino Jacobs on the wings.
The bench has hallmarks of a bomb squad, with Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Louw and Cobus Wiese all Boks to make an impact, while Stravino Jacobs showed in his cameo what his worth is, and Nizaam Carr completes a 6-2 bench.
“For me it’s important that we understand that it’s a privilege to be here,” said Johan Ackermann. “It’s not your right, you’re not entitled to be here. To come to work every day and call this work – it’s a great privilege.”
“We’ve got a shot, and if you ask me, do I believe we can win? Then I’m going to say yes.”
Bulls – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Nizaam Carr.
Leinster – 15.Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jamie Osborne, 11. James Lowe, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Jerry Cahir, 2. Rónan Kelleher, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Max Deegan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan, 17. Alex Usanov, 18. Thomas Clarkson, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Harry Byrne, 23. Garry Ringrose.