Rosko Specman will start on the left wing for the Vodacom Bulls against the Stormers in Pretoria on Saturday.
Specman, who joined the Bulls from the Blitzboks earlier this year, forms a back three with fullback Warrick Gelant and Johnny Kotze, who is on the right wing after a successful stint with the Ospreys.
The 29-year-old Specman is the only tournament debutant in an experienced starting lineup that also includes first Bulls’ Super Rugby runouts for Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits.
Vermeulen returns to the competition for the first time since 2015, having represented the Cheetahs and Stormers in 109 matches, while Brits, who played for the Cats and Stormers, last saw action in the southern-hemisphere showpiece in 2011.
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Embrose Papier has been favoured above Ivan van Zyl at scrumhalf and will form the halfback combination with Handré Pollard.
On the bench, there are potential debuts for hooker Corniel Els, prop Simphiwe Matanzima, lock Eli Snyman and centre Dylan Sage.
Bulls – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Jessie Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lood de Jager (c), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Dylan Sage.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
