Bulls v Crusaders: Teams

Danie Rossouw will win his 100th Super Rugby cap for the Bulls after being named in the starting XV to face the Crusaders in Pretoria on Friday.

The inclusion of the versatile forward is the only change made by coach Frans Ludeke to his side following last week's 27-19 win over the Sharks.

Rossouw, who comes in for Bakkies Botha, joins Pedrie Wannenburg (108) and captain Victor Matfield (106) in the century club having made his debut back in 2001.

"He is a great player and extremely valuable to a team," skipper Matfield said.

"That is why he is always with the Springboks and with the Bulls.

Variety

"Many of his games may have been off the bench, but I don't think people realise how valuable he is to both the Bulls and the Boks," he added on the 46-cap South Africa forward.

Elsewhere, Ludeke has made one change to the bench where he prefers Jaco van der Westhuyzen, fit again after a calf problem, to Heini Adams.

The coach said: "Jaco's inclusion gives us more variety on the bench.

"We have Francois Hougaard as cover at scrum-half and are looking at Jaco's experience to provide us with something extra."

The defending champions are one win away from securing a home semi-final this season.

The Crusaders have made four changes, including a first start for Daniel Bowden, for their crucial Super 14 clash with the Bulls.

Bowden spent much of this season on the sidelines until the match against the Cheetahs three weeks ago, but now takes a slot at inside centre in place of Ryan Crotty, who is struggling for form.

"Dan gives us a different few kicking options which we believe will be important for this match. Ryan has shown signs of fatigue so he is being rested," said coach Todd Blackadder.

Pressure

Bowden may also take some of the pressure off Dan Carter, with the New Zealand fly-half struggling to impose himself on games at the moment.

In other changes from the match in Cape Town, Ti'i Paulo starts at hooker in place of the injured Corey Flynn, who has returned home with an ankle sprain, while Ben Franks starts ahead of his brother Owen at tighthead prop.

Andy Ellis gets his first start at scrum-half for a month in place of Kahn Fotuali'i.

Owen Franks and Fotuali'i drop to the bench but there is no place there for Crotty, with Tim Bateman promoted to the reserves.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Bakkies Botha, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 21 Stephan Dippenaar, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.

Crusaders: 15 Colin Slade, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Dan Bowden, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements:16 Dan Perrin, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Tim Bateman, 22 Jared Payne.