Handre Pollard part of Bok-laden Bulls side to face brilliant Bordeaux

The Bulls are eager to impress the Pretoria faithful in their final home game of 2025 with a matchday 23 stacked full of Springboks. However, they face the daunting task of squaring up against the reigning champions and Top 14 finalists full of French flair.

Feeding Pollard is Paul de Wet, while Harold Voster and David Kriel are on his outside. The Bulls' back three includes World Cup winners Willie le Roux and Canan Moodie, while the rapid Sebastian de Klerk covers the other wing.

In the forwards, Marcel Coetzee captains from behind the scrum, which features Springboks Marco van Staden and Cobus Wiese.

Coach Johan Ackermann has named a potent bench, with Bok front rowers Johann Grobberlaar, Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw set to do damage in the second stanza. The tireless Ruan Nortje and Elrigh Louw are also in reserve.

Bulls - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Marcell Coetzee (c), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.

Replacements: 16 Johann Grobberlaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jeandre Rudolf, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Stravino Jacobs.