The Scarlets may have picked up plenty of plaudits for their performance in their 52-40 defeat to the Stormers in Durban last weekend, but director of rugby Nigel Davies knows his side will face an even bigger test against the Bulls in Round 5 of the BKT United Rugby Championship (Saturday, 31 October – 3.00pm).
The Bulls are the top ranked South African side in the tournament after posting three wins in their opening four games and will be parading eight Springboks in their squad.
The Scarlets have handed a debut to new signing Tom Allen, the 22-year-old second row recruited this summer from Hawke’s Bay and are giving URC debuts to centre Gabe McDonald and wing Isaac Murray-Macgregor. They are among six changes from the side that played in Durban
“In terms of the style of rugby, how we want to go about our business, the behaviours from the players on the field, we’re seeing a lot of real positives and we’re tracking in the right direction,” said Davies.
“There’s no doubt Saturday is going to be another huge test for us, but these players have grown as a group. We weren’t really firing on all cylinders in the first couple of games.
“Now we’ve started to find our feet a little bit, and we’ve now got more players coming back into the mix, new players coming back into the mix, which, again, is very encouraging.
“It’s about having a little bit more composure at key moments. We’re playing a high-energy game, we’re looking to move the ball, we’re looking to take sides on without the ball, trying to disrupt the attacking team so there is an element of high risk.
“I think the one thing that will definitely help us is steadying the set piece because the penalties we conceded at scrum time in particular gave the Stormers a lot of entries into our 22.”
The Bulls have made 13 changes to their match-day 23 at Loftus Versfeld. Head coach Johan Ackermann has made eight changes to the side that started the 34-26 home win over Ulster.
Having been cleared on a disciplinary charge after being cited this week, regular captain Marcell Coetzee will play off the bench. In the backline, Willie le Roux returns at fullback, with Dylan Maart moving to the right wing and Stravino Jacobs coming onto the left wing.
Stedman Gans enters the midfield alongside Harold Vorster, while Curwin Bosch steps into the starting No 10 role to partner Paul de Wet.
Up front, an entirely new front row of Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Khutha Mchunu takes the field. JF van Heerden joins Ruan Vermaak in the second row, while Jeandre Rudolph and Cameron Hanekom complete a re-worked back row alongside Hanro Liebenberg, who takes over the captaincy.
TEAMS
Bulls: Willie le Roux; Dylan Maart, Stedman Gans, Haroilkd Vorster; Curwin Bosch, Paul de Wet; Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khutha Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, JF van Heerden, Jeandre Rudolph, Hanro Liebenberg (captain), Cameron Hanekom
Reps: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Cobus Wiese, Marcell Coetzee, Zak Burger, Sebastian de Klerk, Hakeem KuneneScarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Ioan Jones, Joe Roberts, Gabe McDonald, Isaac Murray-Macgregor; Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Gareth Davies; Corey Domachowski, John McKee, Harri O’Connor, Tom Allen, Alex Groves, Sam Lousi, Josh Macleod (captain), Fletcher Anderson
Reps: Isaac Young, Sam O’Connor, Gabe Hawley, Harvey Cuckson, Dan Davis, Dane Blacker, Gareth Anscombe, Jac Davies