Bulls’ backline at full strength

BRUMBIES CLASH: COACH MAKES TWO CHANGES TO PACK

Flyhalf Handre Pollard is back where he belongs.

The first-choice Bulls backline will take to the field in their Super Rugby match against the Brumbies at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow, with the return of captain Burger Odendaal from a rib injury and the shifting of Handre Pollard back to flyhalf.

The pack also shows two changes with the pacey Nic de Jager coming into the starting loose trio in place of Thembelani Bholi, who reverts to the bench, and Jaco Visagie getting a go in the No 2 jersey as Adriaan Strauss has a bit of a break among the replacements.

“We have a squad of 40 so it’s about growing the depth and guys must make sure they’re ready when they’re selected. We’ve also played a lot of rugby, we’ve gone a long time – six weeks – since the last bye, so it’s important to bring some energy into the team. We must keep fighting,” Mitchell said at Loftus Versfeld yesterday.

There are five changes to the bench, with Strauss, Bholi and Manie Libbok coming down and prop Matthys Basson and lock Ruben van Heerden the new faces.

With De Jager having often played openside flank for the Pretoria team, Mitchell said he was hoping for an improvement in the breakdown work, especially with one David Pocock lurking in the Brumbies side.

“Nic has been playing better and better and has earned his starting place, he also brings leadership and communicates well.

“He’s very capable on the edge and last weekend we were not tidy enough with our skills there, which you have to be in order to build pressure with the ball. We were impatient and inaccurate,” Mitchell said.