Bulls v Chiefs: Teams
South Africa lock Victor Matfield makes a welcome return for the third-placed Bulls against table-topping Chiefs.
Last Updated: 24/04/09 8:32am
The Bulls have made just two changes for the visit of the table-topping Chiefs at Loftus Versfield on Saturday.
South Africa lock Victor Matfield makes a welcome return for the third-placed Bulls in the second row at the expense of Wilhelm Steenkamp, who doesn't feature in the matchday 22 with coach Frans Ludeke opting for two props on the bench.
Matfield missed the Bulls match against the Brumbies after returning home for the birth of his second child.
Deon Stegmann is back at openside flank, with Dewald Potgieter shifting to the blindside and Pedrie Wannenburg dropping onto the bench.
If Wannenburg gets some game time it will be his 93rd successive Super 14 match for the Bulls.
Chiefs hooker Hika Elliot has been rewarded for scoring a try last week with a place in the starting XV.
Coach Ian Foster has given Elliot the starting spot ahead of Aled de Malmanche after he came off the bench to score in the 28-10 win over the Cheetahs.
In the only other change, scrum-half Toby Morland has been promoted from the bench after Brendon Leonard was ruled out with a sternum injury suffered against the Cheetahs.
David Bason replaces Morland on the bench.
"We are looking forward to the intensity that comes with a game at Loftus," said Foster.
"We've enjoyed a second week of good preparation in South Africa and the squad is determined to keep growing at this key time in the season," he said.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez (c), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp
Replacements: 16 Jaco Engels, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Pedrie Wannenburg, 19 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jaco Pretorius
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Tim Mikkelson, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 James McGougan, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Toby Lynn, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 David Bason, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Jackson Willison.
