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Bulls go big with 18 Springboks in Champions Cup squad
By Josh Raisey
Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has named his 32-man squad for this season’s Investec Champions Cup, 18 of which are South Africa internationals.
The Springboks finish their Quilter Nations Series on Saturday with Wales at the Principality Stadium, with just one week break before the Champions Cup begins.
That week is still filled with United Rugby Championship fixtures, where the Bulls host the Lions at Loftus Versfeld.
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Ackermann’s side will then switch their attention to the Champions Cup, with their opening two fixtures coming against reigning champions Bordeaux-Begles in Pretoria, and last season’s runners-up Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.
They will be fully loaded for their two encounters, though, with five members of the Bok team that recently defeated Ireland in the squad, including three members of the front-row that demolished the Irish scrum – replacement hooker Johan Grobbelaar and replacement props Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, who won a penalty try within moments of being substituted on before half time.
The Champions Cup will return in the new year with clashes with Bristol Bears and Pau for the Bulls, not before South African derbies against the Sharks and back-to-back clashes with the Stormers.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus will name his final team of the year on Thursday, which will likely feature plenty of Bulls stars again.
Bulls squad
Forwards (25) Alu Tshakweni, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Sti Sithole; Johan Grobbelaar, Akker van der Merwe, Juann Else; Wilco Louw, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Khuta Mchunu; Jaco Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese; Ruan Nortje, Reinhardt Ludwig, JF van Heerden; Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Nama Xaba; Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw; Cameron Hanekom, Mpilo Gumede, JJ Theron, Jeandré Rudolph.
Backs (17) Embrose Papier, Paul de Wet, Zak Burger; Handré Pollard, Keagan Johannes, Kade Wolhuter; Stravino Jacobs, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Harold Vorster, Jan Serfontein; David Kriel, Stedman Gans; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste; Willie le Roux, Devon Williams.
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