LOUW RETURNS AS VODACOM BULLS LOOK TO WRAP EURO TOUR ON A POSITIVE

Oct 24 • General News, International, National, South Africa, South Africa, United Rugby Championship • 53 Views • Comments Off on LOUW RETURNS AS VODACOM BULLS LOOK TO WRAP EURO TOUR ON A POSITIVE

Vodacom Bulls co-captain Elrigh Louw returns to full match fitness, having recovered from a concussion in round 4 of the 2024/25 Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Louw is reinstalled into the matchday 23 as the South Africans prepare to take on Italians Benetton on Friday night in Treviso.

The Springbok no. 8 will slot into the loose trio with Marcel Coetzee and Reinhardt Ludwig at flank. Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden will combine at lock, with Alulutho Tshakweni lacing up his boots alongside Springbok duo Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw, who complete the front row.

Embrose Papier starts at scrum half, pairing up with flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain as the halfback combination. Behind the pair Canan Moodie is joined by returning David Kriel at centre whilst Kurt-Lee Arendse (left wing), Aphiwe Dyantyi (right wing) and the returning Devon Williams slots into the fullback role to complete the back three.

The herd has a five-three split impact squad that sees Akker van der Merwe, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Cameron Hanekom, Keagan Johannes, Stedman Gans and Sebastian de Klerk all on standby for the great Italian job.

Jake White’s chargers have amassed six points on their tour thus far and will be looking for more points before the tournament break for the November tours. The action in northeastern Italy starts at 20h35 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Rugby.

VODACOM BULLS vs BENNETTON RUGBY STARTING XV:

1. Alulutho Tshakweni, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. JF van Heerden, 6. Marcel Coetzee, 7. Reinhardt Ludwig, 8. Elrigh Louw (c), 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Boeta Chamberlain, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12. David Kriel, 13. Canan Moodie, 14. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 15. Devon Williams

VODACOM BULLS IMPACT SQUAD:

16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Ruan Vermaak, 20. Cameron Hanekom, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Stedman Gans, 23. Sebastian de Klerk