For the URC third round, the Bulls will play against Ulster at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, this Saturday at 3 p.m. UK time, with live coverage on Premier Sports. Ulster is taking on a daunting challenge as this is their second subsequent match at a high altitude.
Following their disheartening 35-22 defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg’s hot and rarefied atmosphere, Richie Murphy’s team must face the Bulls, who boast several returning Springboks ready to exert their force at the front and stamp their mark behind the scrum.
Given it’s their last home game before hosting Northampton in the Champions Cup second round in mid-December, the Bulls seek to stage a riveting performance at Loftus Versfeld this coming Saturday. Unhappiness is clear in Bulls coach Jake White following last weekend’s meagre home triumph over Edinburgh. He anticipates a strong response thanks to returning players Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Gerhard Steenkamp, Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw, and Marco van Staden, against what appears to be an inexperienced Ulster side.
Ulster, having spent the majority of the week training at sea level in Cape Town, have landed in Pretoria and have made nine changes to their initial lineup. Young lock, Charlie Irvine, is set to debut, while hooker James McCormick and centre Ben Carson, replacing injured Stuart McCloskey, have been given their first starts by Murphy. New recruit, Corrie Barrett, is also poised to start at tighthead, resulting in his and McCormick’s total combined Ulster game tally being merely six post Saturday.
Ulster’s blindside flanker, James McNabney, marks his sixth participation, with great reliance on the veteran Iain Henderson as well as Sean Reffell, David McCann, Jacob Stockdale, and Werner Kok’s leadership. Behind the scrum, Nathan Doak replaces John Cooney, and in midfield, Carson pairs up with Stewart Moore, both ready for a showdown against the centres duo, Canan Moodie and David Kriel.
Ulster’s bench players will play a crucial role in the upcoming match, with Tom O’Toole and Nick Timoney particularly expected to make a significant impact. Tadgh McElroy, a medical substitute, is slated to make his debut as a hooker. James Humphreys, offspring of former Irish number 10 David, is also anticipated to make his initial appearance for the province.
In light of fulfilling Murphy’s proclaimed aspiration to cultivate the forthcoming generation of Ulster players, this match will evidently be a formidable display of talent. Yet, some are questioning if this is the right time and place for it.
The BULLS team comprises W le Roux, S de Klerk, C Moodie, D Kriel, K-L Arendse, B Chamberlain, E Papier, G Steenekamp, J Grobbelaar, W Louw, C Wiese, R Nortje (captain), M van Staden, E Louw, and C Hanekom. Bench includes A van der Merwe, J-H Wessels, F Klopper, S Manjezi, C Gumede, K Johannes, S Gans, and A Dyantyi.
For ULSTER, the line-up consists of M Lowry, W Kok, S Moore, B Carson, J Stockdale, A Morgan, N Doak, A Warwick, J McCormick, C Barrett, I Henderson (captain), C Irvine, J McNabney, S Reffell, and D McCann. The squad’s replacements include T McElroy, E O’Sullivan, T O’Toole, A O’Connor, N Timoney, D Shanahan, J Humphreys, and B Moxham.
The match referee is B Whitehouse from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The prediction is that the Bulls will take the victory in this match.