The 2007 Rugby World Cup-winner replaces Wiehahn Herbst in the front row for the match that will be broadcast live on SuperSport (kick-off at 16h00), while the other change in the forward pack is at flank, where Marnus Schoeman moves up from the replacements bench in place of Jaco Kriel.
In the backline, Burger Odendaal will add bulk to the midfield in place of Wandisile Simelane, who will make an impact off the bench.
Simelane joins Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje and former Junior Bok loose forward Francke Horn as the new faces among the replacements.
The match will be significant for both teams, as a victory for the Vodacom Bulls will see them take a giant leap towards securing the top spot on the log table for a home semi-final and possibly a home final, while a victory for the Xerox Lions would place them in contention for a home semi-final depending on the results this coming weekend.
Xerox Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Francke Horn.
Match information – Vodacom Bulls v Xerox Lions
Date: Wednesday, 6 January 2021
Time: 16h00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Paul Mente and Morne Ferreira
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
TV: SuperSport Rugby
