Pollard And 16 Springboks Anchor Bulls Squad Flying Against Leinster
The Vodacom Bulls squad travelling to Dublin for next Friday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) final reflects a carefully balanced blend of experience, youth, and versatility, placing the team in a strong position for the demands of a high-pressure occasion.
At the heart of the squad is a significant Springbok presence, with 17 internationals included. Seasoned campaigners such as Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard, Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse bring invaluable big-match experience and leadership. Their presence is complemented by an exciting group of emerging talents, including Cameron Hanekom and Cheswill Jooste, whose energy and attacking flair add a dynamic edge to the squad.
Up front, the composition of the forwards offers a balance of physicality and mobility. Players such as Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden provide relentless work rate and a strong presence at the breakdown, while Ruan Nortje and Cobus Wiese offer the size and power required to anchor the set-piece. The front row, in particular, stands out for its depth and experience, ensuring scrummaging stability and the ability to maintain intensity throughout the contest.
In the backline, the squad combines control with creativity. Pollard’s game management and tactical kicking are complemented by Le Roux’s vision and playmaking ability, while strike runners such as Arendse, Canan Moodie and Jooste provide genuine pace and finishing quality. The inclusion of players capable of covering multiple positions, including Moodie, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Nizaam Carr, adds valuable flexibility in both selection and in-game management.
Overall, the squad is well balanced, with a strong leadership core and a bench capable of making a significant impact. It is a group built not only on individual quality but also on cohesion and adaptability – qualities that will be crucial in a championship final.
The team departs for Ireland on Monday evening.
VODACOM BULLS SQUAD FOR THE VURC FINAL
Alulutho Tshakweni, Akker van der Merwe, Cameron Hanekom, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Cobus Wiese, Devon Williams, Elrigh Louw, Embrose Papier, Francois Klopper, Gerhard Steenekamp, Handré Pollard, Harold Vorster, Johan Grobbelaar, Jeandre Rudolph, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Keagan Johannes, Katlego Letebele, Marcell Coetzee, Mpilo Gumede, Mornay Smith, Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Stedman Gans, Stravino Jacobs, Willie le Roux, Wilco Louw and Zak Burger.
