Johan Goosen has shrugged off a knock and will start for the Vodacom Bulls in the quarter-final clash against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
Goosen picked up a hamstring strain while playing against DHL Western Province in the Currie Cup and was substituted at half time in that game.
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However, the Springbok has been passed fit to start at flyhalf as the Vodacom Bulls look to stun the defending champions at what is expected to be a packed Cape Town Stadium at 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon.
Partnering Goosen at halfback will be Embrose Papier and the scrumhalf is joined by Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie to complete a quartet of capped Springboks in the backline.
The Vodacom Bulls have named arguably their strongest combinations in the pack, with Elrigh Louw in a back row alongside Cyle Brink and Marco van Staden.
Captain Ruan Nortje forms the second row with Ruan Vermaak, while Johan Grobbelaar resumes his duties at hooker with prop partners Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith.
The Vodacom Bulls will have three Springbok veterans to call from the bench: hooker Bismarck du Plessis, loose forward Nizaam Carr and centre Lionel Mapoe. There is no place for another veteran in Morne Steyn, who will be starting in the Currie Cup. Chris Smith is the replacement playmaker.
Vodacom Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
The @BlueBullsRugby have never beaten the Stormers in the @Vodacom #URC, and it's going to stay that way when they collide in the quarter-final at DHL Stadium, according to @mark_keohane and Zels. pic.twitter.com/D0L9lXKKF5
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) May 5, 2023
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images