Xaba leads Bulls’ revenge mission

Nama Xaba will captain a Vodacom Bulls XV determined to erase the memory of last year’s shock defeat to Boland when they kick off their Currie Cup campaign in Wellington on Sunday.

Coach Phiwe Nomlomo has named a match 23 that includes eight Currie Cup debutants – Jaundre Schoeman, Damian Baker, Dian Coetzee, Cephas van Biljon, Chinedu Amadi, Viaan Mentoor, Christiaan Vlok and JJ Motlhodi – and five club players.

TEAM: Fit-again duo back for Boland

There is a welcome boost with the return of loosehead prop Dylan Smith, who spent almost a year on the sidelines through injury.

Experienced playmaker Keagan Johannes will steer the team from flyhalf, while PA van Niekerk and Demitre Erasmus form an eye-catching midfield combination.

The Bulls will also hand debuts to two former Sharks youngsters, tighthead prop Mawande Mdanda and wing Hakeem Kunene.

MORE: Nomlomo backs youthful Bulls to fire

BULLS XV – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Hakeem Kunene, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 PA van Niekerk, 11 Riyaad Bam, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Brooklyn Newman, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Abongile Nonkotwana, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Jaundre Schoeman, 1 Dylan Smith.
Bench: 16 Shaun Schürmann, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Dian Coetzee, 19 Cephas van Biljon, 20 Chinedu Amadi, 21 Viaan Mentoor, 22 Christiaan Viok, 23 JJ Motlhodi.

Weekend teams

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

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