Nortje returns for the Bulls

Bulls captain Ruan Nortje returns from injury to lead the side into round four of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup. The Springbok lock makes his return after a two-month-long absence and at a time when his team wants to give the European campaign a fight for the ages.

• Nortje makes injury return, joined by Ludwig
• Coetzee, Louw & Hanekom combine at loose forward
• White sets eyes on EPCR Challenge Cup as he looks ahead

The Tshwane outfit will take on their French counterparts with their hopes set on qualifying for the EPCR Challenge Cup. The match kicks off at 15:00pm at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and tickets are available from Ticketpro for as little as R 50.00c.

“There is a lot to play for,” says Bulls director of rugby Jake White.

“Can we hold them and win by 22 points? Can we keep them to scoring less than four tries and stay 22 points ahead? There are a lot of learnings that we can get out of this game. There is never a dead rubber when the [Vodacom] Bulls are playing, and that says a lot about us as a franchise. We need 22 points, and that is our goal.”

White adds “The EPCR Challenge Cup is all or nothing for us. We want to win and that opportunity for us is now on the Challenge Cup,”

“It’s not a dead rubber for anyone, it will be an interesting one for the supporters too because the numbers will change with each point scored.”

On the opposite side, Stade Français Paris; the Bulls mentor remarks: “They are going to do everything in their power to get that single point that they need,”

“Every time they get three, it becomes tougher for us and that is going to be a test for us as a group and it will be interesting to see how we handle that decision-making process.”

White has assembled a front row of Springboks in Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw. Behind the trio is lock combination Ruan Vermaak alongside his captain, Nortje. Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom complete the pack at loose forward.

Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen combine once more at half-back, with Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans partnering up at inside and outside centre, respectively. Pacemen Sergeal Petersen and Sebastian de Klerk start at left and on the right wing of the park, with  Devon Williams at fullback.

White has opted for a five-three split impact squad featuring the likes of Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Francois Klopper, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Boeta Chamberlain and Canan Moodie.

BULLS vs STADE FRANÇAIS PARIS STARTING XV: 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Johann Grobbelaar, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Ruan Nortje (c), 6. Marcell Coetzee, 7. Elrigh Louw, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Sergeal Petersen, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. Stedman Gans, 14. Sebastian de Klerk, 15. Devon Williams

BULLS IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Alulutho Tshakweni, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Reinhardt Ludwig, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Canan Moodie

MANAGEMENT: Jake White – Director of Rugby, Chris Rossouw – Assistant Coach, Werner Kruger – Assistant Coach, Andries Bekker – Assistant Coach, Jean Tiedt – Assistant Coach, Kennedy Tsimba – Assistant Coach, Phiwe Nomlomo – Assistant Coach, John-William Meyer – Technical Analyst, Dr. Herman Rossouw – Team Doctor, Lance Lammetjies & Darryn Berry – Physiotherapists, Andre Volsteedt – Strength & Conditioning, Yusuf Vahed – Sport Scientist, Elias Bennett – Team Manager, Simon Dyidi – Logistics Manager