Both the Bulls and Stormers are scheduled to only name their teams on Friday for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash at the Cape Town Stadium (kick-off 2pm). Let’s look at five big selection calls that director of rugby Jake White will have to make for the Bulls.
Willie Or Won’t He?
Should the rest of Willie le Roux’s career be played out at flyhalf?
Considering his second-half cameo for the Bulls against the Lions recently, that may well be the case.
Long established as a fullback, Le Roux actually started his provincial career as a flyhalf for Boland, quickly earning the nickname of ‘Quade Cooper’ – after the Reds and Wallaby playmaker of the time.
He wasn’t given a chance at the Stormers, and had to reinvent himself as a wing at Griquas and the Cheetahs, where he got his big Bok break. He then shifted to fullback for most of his international career.
He certainly has the ability to create and see space, and he has the passing and kicking skills to match. His decision-making will be under immense scrutiny from the opening whistle, but he can get the best out of the strike-runners out wide.
By Hook Or By Crook
Both Johan Grobbelaar and Akker van der Merwe are fine hookers, with different attributes.
Grobbelaar is more agile and is renowned for his defensive work-rate and breakdown skills, while Van der Merwe is more direct as a ball-carrier, can put in huge hits at close quarters, and has a knack of scoring tries from driving mauls.
Both are accurate line-out throwers as well. But does White want to play a quick style from the start with Grobbelaar, or subdue the Stormers pack with Van der Merwe and bring in Grobbelaar in the second half?
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
The knee injury to captain Ruan Nortjé means that someone else has to call the line-outs. Reinhardt Ludwig has been entrusted with that role previously, but he came back from injury recently, and earlier in the season, Junior Springbok JF van Heerden was at No 5.
The knee injury to Elrigh Louw complicates matters for White, as Ludwig may have to fill that hole at No 7, while Ruan Vermaak and Cobus Wiese are more natural No 4 locks.
Fast Or Loose
With Louw injured, the loose-trio that the Bulls field against the Stormers will be interesting to see.
It is understood that Marco van Staden will be available after recovering from injury, but he is not a blindside flank. Marcell Coetzee has been outstanding for the Bulls at No 6, though, so it will be tough to leave him out for Van Staden.
Cameron Hanekom has been the best Bulls loose-forward for the last few seasons, but should he perhaps shift from No 8 to No 7 this week?
That could open the door for the experienced Nizaam Carr to slot in as a classical No 8. Another No 8 candidate is Mpilo Gumede, who is a powerful ball-carrier who could also operate at blindside flank.
Centres Of Attention
The Bulls have mixed up their centre pairing many times, but in such an important game like the Stormers, the best combination needs to play. Personally, that should be David Kriel at No 12 and Stedman Gans at No 13, as they complement each other with their different skill-sets.