Bulls v Lions: Teams

The Blue Bulls have been forced into making two changes for their Super Rugby derby against the Lions on Saturday.

Despite suffering their second consecutive loss over the weekend when they were beaten 23-13 by the Stormers at home, coach Frans Ludeke has resisted the temptation to tinker with his side too much.

The two changes made by Ludeke are injury-enforced, with Zane Kirchner (shoulder) and Gurthrö Steenkamp (arm) ruled out.

Jaco van der Westhuyzen comes in for Kirchner at full-back while Dean Greyling replaces Steenkamp at loosehead prop. Both players will be making their first appearance of the season.

"We know we are close to turning things around," explained a defiant Ludeke.

"There were problems in our execution the last two outings, but I am confident that we sorted them out."

Bulls skipper Victor Matfield insisted that his charges will do whatever it takes to make sure they don't lose two on the trot.

"I can't remember when last the Bulls have lost two in a row at home and there is an urgency to make sure it never happens again," he said.

"The Lions proved their worth in the competition, so this will be a massive game for us."

Former Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar will earn his first start in this year's Super Rugby competition.

As promised, coach John Mitchell rang the changes after his team's disappointing 27-15 loss to the Western Force last week by announcing five changes and three positional switches to his team.

Grobbelaar comes in at openside flank with Derick Minnie covering the blindside in place of Josh Strauss who drops to the bench.

In the second row, David Bulbring will earn his first start ahead of Wikus van Heerden who will sit this one out because of a hamstring injury.

At the back, Jano Vermaak and Rory Kockott are rotated at scrum-half while Doppies la Grange will make his return from injury at centre. Waylon Murray will therefore be wearing the number 13 jersey after covering at inside centre for La Grange last week.

Mitchell has also decided to shift Michael Killian from wing to full-back with the final change being the inclusion of Deon van Rensburg in the position left vacant by Killian.

On the bench Michael Rhodes is the only player that was used as a sub last week.

Former Springbok Andre Pretorius, hooker Edgar Marutlulle, and prop Jacobie Adriaanse are set to earn their first Super Rugby caps of the year from the bench.

Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen , 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann , 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Hougaard,22 Francois Brummer.

Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies La Grange, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whitely, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe (c), 4 David Bullbring, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Joshua Strauss, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Andre Pretorius, 22 Jaco Taute.