Bulls ring 13 changes for Scarlets visit but retain eight Springboks in 23

The Bulls have named a heavily rotated squad for their United Rugby Championship home fixture against the Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with head coach Johan Ackermann making 13 changes to the group that featured last week — eight of them to the starting XV.

Despite the sweeping rotation, the Pretoria side retain considerable international depth, with eight capped Springboks spread across the starting lineup and replacements bench.

A notable selection story surrounds back-row Marcell Coetzee, who has been cleared to feature after completing a disciplinary process following a citing earlier in the week. The URC committee ruled that his “head contact” at a ruck “was incidental and low force, corroborated by the evidence of both the Player and his opponent and medical team.” The regular Bulls captain will not return immediately to the starting side, however, with Ackermann naming him among the replacements.

In the backs, veteran Springbok Willie le Roux comes in at full-back, while Dylan Maart moves to the right wing and Stravino Jacobs is handed the left-wing berth. Stedman Gans starts in midfield alongside Harold Vorster. Curwin Bosch takes the No.10 jersey, pairing with scrum-half Paul de Wet in a new-look half-back combination.

Ackermann has also selected an entirely new front row, with Alu Tshakweni at loosehead, Jan-Hendrik Wessels at hooker and Khutha Mchunu at tighthead. JF van Heerden joins Ruan Vermaak in the second row, while Jeandre Rudolph and Cameron Hanekom are promoted into the back row. Hanro Liebenberg captains the side from blindside flank.

The match represents the Bulls’ final home fixture of 2026 in the URC.

Bulls XV: Tshakweni; Maart, Gans, Vorster, Jacobs; Bosch, De Wet; Tshakweni, Wessels, Mchunu, Vermaak, Van Heerden, Rudolph, Liebenberg (capt.), Hanekom.

Replacements: Grobbelaar, Steenekamp, Klopper, Wiese, Coetzee, Burger, De Klerk, Kunen.