RugbyRebels

Bristol Bears team to face Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (1pm KO GMT):

15. Rich Lane (61 apps), 14. Noah Heward (33 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (61 apps), 12. James Williams (63 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (43 apps), 10. Tom Jordan (10 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (63 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (116 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (54 apps), 3. George Kloska (73 apps), 4. Pedro Rubiolo (11 apps), 5. Joe Batley (86 apps), 6. Santiago Grondona (23 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (109 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (27 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (146 apps), 17. Ellis Genge (68 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (19 apps), 19. Joe Owen (49 apps), 20. Ben Grondona (31 apps), 21. Harry Randall (151 apps), 22. Sam Worsley (29 apps), 23. Matias Moroni (4 apps).

Unavailable: Will Capon, Jake Woolmore, Lovejoy Chawatama, James Dun, Paddy Pearce, Steven Luatua, Kofi Cripps, AJ MacGinty, Toby Baker, Joe Jenkins, Jack Bates, Gabriel Ibitoye, Louis Rees-Zammit.

VODACOM BULLS vs BRISTOL BEARS
1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels
2. Johan Grobbelaar
3. Wilco Louw
4. Cobus Wiese
5. Ruan Nortje (Capt)
6. Marco van Staden
7. Elrigh Louw
8. Jeandre Rudolph
9. Embrose Papier
10. Handre Pollard
11. Stravino Jacobs
12. Harold Vorster
13. David Kriel
14. Sebastian de Klerk
15. Willie le Roux
16. Akker van der Merwe
17. Gerhard Steenekamp
18. Mornay Smith
19. Ruan Vermaak
20. Mpilo Gumede
21. Zak Burger
22. Stedman Gans
23. Sergeal Petersen

No idea how strong a Bulls side that is...

Also not sure what is needed to qualify for the next round in this bizarre system.

Bristol by 74…

It's a full strength bulls side

Watch out for rudolph at 8! He looks about 40 but is actually 28 and a quality player

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:16 pm Bristol by 74…

We do have RICH LANE!!! back...

I think it's about 6 Spring boks, so will be a great result if Bristol can win.

That Bulls pack looks stacked. Some big boys there. Backs don't quite look as intimidating and their form isn't great.

On firm ground down in SA could Bristol run riot though and take the game away from the big Bulls pack?

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:16 pm Bristol by 74…

Did you put any money on this?

This is positively insane! 28 v 47 at half time!

Mad game. Good result for Bristol.