By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Vodacom Bulls have rung changes for the Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Munster at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland.
Bulls preparations, however, have been dealt a blow with tighthead prop Mornay Smith forced to return home to South Africa after suffering an ankle injury.
Smith’s premature departure sees Khutha Mchunu step into the match-day squad as prop cover on the bench alongside Sti Sithole, who replaces Dylan Smith.
In the backline Hakeem Kunene, who featured off the bench last week, gets the nod at fullback, shifting Springbok veteran Willie le Roux to the bench to provide experienced cover in the second half.
The back three also sees speedster Thaakir Abrahams come into the starting lineup on the left wing, with Stravino Jacobs shifting inside to start at inside centre. Harold Vorster drops out of the match-day 23, allowing Stedman Gans to slide into outside centre alongside Jacobs.
At scrumhalf, Zak Burger swaps roles with Paul de Wet to take over the starting number nine jersey, pairing with Curwin Bosch in the halfbacks.
The starting forward pack remains unchanged from the victory over Zebre Parma, with skipper Marcell Coetzee leading the unit alongside Hanro Liebenberg and Jeandre Rudolph in the back row.
The Bulls have won their last three matches against Munster, including last season’s quarter-final at Loftus (45-14) and their previous meeting in Limerick during the 2024-25 campaign (16-13).
Bulls Starting XV– 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Stravino Jacobs, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cheswill Jooste, 23 Willie le Roux.
Munster Starting XV – 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Seán O’Brien, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Shay McCarthy, 10 Charlie O’Shea, 9 Craig Casey (c), 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Seán Edogbo, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Michael Milne.
Replacements: 16 Kieran Brookes, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Alex Kendellen.
Meanwhile the DHL Stormers will again kick off the action on Friday when they line up against Edinburgh in Scotland, while a jam-packed Saturday will see the 10bet Lions host the Ospreys in Johannesburg, the Hollywoodbets Sharks take on Leinster in Durban.