By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Suresh Rajcoomar/Fullview.
The Vodacom Bulls have made 13 changes for Saturday’s final home Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) fixture of 2026 against the Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld.
Despite the rotation, the Bulls still boast considerable international pedigree, with eight capped Springboks included across the starting XV and bench.
There is a welcome boost for the hosts in the form of Marcell Coetzee, who has been cleared to play after overcoming a disciplinary process stemming from a yellow card in their victory against Ulster.
“A disciplinary hearing has occurred related to Marcell Coetzee citing in the United Rugby Championship Round 4 game against Ulster Rugby on Saturday, October 24,” a statement from the URC read.
The panel overseeing the disciplinary process, Ben Rutherford (Chair – Ireland), Declan Goodwin and Chris Morgan (Wales), reviewed the incident and agreed that an act of foul play had occurred but found that the level of danger could not justify upgrading the sanction.
“The citing complaint was not upheld, and the player is free to play this weekend,” the statement concluded.
However Coetzee will start on the bench, Curwin Bosch takes over the No.10 jersey after Handre Pollard suffered a hamstring injury.
With Cheswill Jooste out with a fractured cheekbone, Stravino Jacobs comes in on the wing. Dylan Maart is on the other side after taking over from Sebastian de Klerk, who drops to the bench.
Willie le Roux is at fullback this week in place of Luan Giliomee. In the midfield, Stedman Gans will partner Harold Vorster.
There are also changes in the pack, and it consists of a new starting front row in the form of Khutha Mchunu, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Alu Tshakweni.
JF van Heerden replaces Reinhardt Ludwig in the second row, while Cameron Hanekom and Jeandre Rudolph will take over from Elrigh Louw and Coetzee.
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Sebastian de Klerk, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Meanwhile DHL Stormers will be looking to make the most of their last home game before the Nations Championship break, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and 10bet Lions will be determined to finish their overseas legs on a high note against quality opposition.
The Lions will take the field first on Friday against the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland (21h45), with the Stormers taking on Ulster in Cape Town (14h45) and the Sharks going up against Munster in Limerick (19h30) on Saturday.