Canan Moodie at centre as Bulls mix things up to douse the Dragons’ fire

Canan Moodie will line up in midfield for the Bulls in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Dragons at Loftus Versfeld (3pm kick-off).

Bulls director of rugby Jake White made a number of changes on Friday to the starting team that began last week’s win over Cardiff, with an eye on rotation ahead of the URC quarter-finals in a fortnight.

In that regard, Moodie at outside centre was a bit of a surprise selection announced by White on Friday, as he has been in fine form at right wing over the last few weeks.

In addition, Stedman Gans desperately needs game-time before the playoffs in case of injury, and someone like David Kriel required a breather after playing almost non-stop this season.

But instead, Kriel’s midfield partner Harold Vorster has been given the weekend off, with Kriel shifting to his old No 12 jersey and Moodie coming in at No 13.

With Moodie going to centre, it has created a gap at wing, where the experienced Sergeal Petersen makes a welcome return at No 11, alongside Sebastian de Klerk and Willie le Roux in a formidable back-three.

As expected, Keagan Johannes will start at flyhalf again, having replaced the injured Johan Goosen early against Cardiff.

Johannes has been in top form as well, and probably would have been better off being wrapped up in cotton wool for what should be a fairly comfortable victory over the bottom-of-the-log Dragons due to Goosen’s knee injury.

There is another new face in the loose trio, with openside flank Nama Xaba getting some much-needed game-time, with Marco van Staden left out and Marcell Coetzee on the bench.

White should have rested his two other big names in the pack, Cameron Hanekom and captain Ruan Nortjé, but they will continue to set the tone for the Bulls.

At least powerhouse Springbok tighthead prop Wilco Louw won’t be part of the match-23, with Mornay Smith slotting in at No 3.

* The Bulls will remember their former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks, who passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 37, with a moment of silence before the Dragons game, and will also observe a minute of applause in the 14th minute of the game, which will symbolise his No 14 jersey.

Bulls Team

15 Willie le Roux 14 Sebastian de Klerk 13 Canan Moodie 12 David Kriel 11 Sergeal Petersen 10 Keagan Johannes 9 Zak Burger 8 Cameron Hanekom 7 Ruan Nortjé (captain) 6 Nama Xaba 5 JF van Heerden 4 Cobus Wiese 3 Mornay Smith 2 Akker van der Merwe 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar 17 Simphiwe Matanzima 18 Francois Klopper 19 Jannes Kirsten 20 Marcell Coetzee 21 Bernard van der Linde 22 Stedman Gans 23 Devon Williams.