Vodacom Bulls and World Cup-winning Springbok Canan Moodie will notch up his half-century of appearances in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship when his Tshwane team travels to Cape Town to take on the DHL Stormers in the delayed first-round clash of the 2024/25 campaign.

  • Le Roux headlines the midfield
  • Wessels starts at prop, Ludwig at loose-forward
  • Canan Moodie notches up his tournament half-century
  • Boeta and Seb shift to the impact squad, where Zak comes in for Keags

Moodie achieves the milestone at the same ground and fixture, albeit in the domestic competition, where he made his debut three years back. The 22-year-old shifts into the starting XV this weekend, where he will run at right wing with Sergeal Petersen on the left. In between the fast movers will be the centre pairing of Harold Vorster and David Kriel with Devon Williams at the back.

Embrose Papier, at scrumhalf, has a new halfback mate in Willie le Roux who will start at flyhalf for the first time since arriving at the capital after his impressive game management in the Jukskei Derby a fortnight ago.

Up in front, Jan-hendrik Wessels gets the nod at prop alongside fellow Springboks in Wilco Louw and Johann Grobbelaar who will lace up his boots at hooker. In the second row, Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden pair up at lock with Marcell – who captains the side – at loose forward alongside Reinhardt Ludwig. Cameron Hanekom completes the pack at eight.

Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White has opted for a five-three split impact squad featuring Akker van der Merwe, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Boeta Chamberlain and Sebastian de Klerk.

VODACOM BULLS vs DHL STORMERS STARTING XV: 1. Jan-hendrik Wessels, 2. Johann Grobbelaar, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. JF van Heerden, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 7. Reinhardt Ludwig, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Willie le Roux, 11. Sergeal Petersen, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. David Kriel, 14. Canan Moodie, 15. Devon Williams

VODACOM BULLS IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Ruan Vermaak, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Sebastian de Klerk

MANAGEMENT: Jake White – Director of Rugby, Chris Rossouw – Assistant Coach, Werner Kruger – Assistant Coach, Andries Bekker – Assistant Coach, Jean Tiedt – Assistant Coach, Kennedy Tsimba – Assistant Coach, Phiwe Nomlomo – Assistant Coach, John-William Meyer – Technical Analyst, Dr. Moshe Magethi – Team Doctor, Lance Lammetjies & Darryn Berry – Physiotherapists, Andre Volsteedt – Strength & Conditioning, Yusuf Vahed – Sport Scientist, Elias Bennett – Team Manager, Simon Dyidi – Logistics Manager