Should Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé stay at flank in Edinburgh URC quarter-final?
Ruan Nortjé Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé should rule the lineouts as a lock against Edinburgh. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
The Bulls have an abundance of loose-forward options, but who should start in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Edinburgh next Saturday?
Coach Jake White has happily rotated his loose trio throughout the season with great success, with yet another new face, Nama Xaba, clinching the Player of the Match award in last week's 55-15 romp over the hapless Dragons.
But now it's all or nothing in next Saturday's playoff against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld (1.30pm). There is no rotation needed – the best openside flank, blindside flank and No 8 must run out against the Scottish club.
Let's look at all the loose-forward options available to White: Marcell Coetzee, Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom, Xaba, Jannes Kirsten, Mihlali Mosi, Cobus Wiese and Ruan Nortjé.
It is understood that Nizaam Carr, Reinhardt Ludwig and Mpilo Gumede are injured and out of the mix at the moment, while Elrigh Louw will only return next year.
Now, based on his selections in recent matches, White is likely to opt for Coetzee at openside, Nortjé at blindside and Hanekom at No 8.
But it isn't necessarily as straightforward as that.
The big elephant in the room is captain Nortjé at No 7.
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His move to the loose trio was necessitated by the injuries to Louw and Gumede, and the excellent form of Junior Springbok JF van Heerden at No 5.
But Nortjé actually starred for the Springboks at No 5 lock last year, and may be doing his international ambitions some harm by not turning out in that position for his franchise.
And surely having their ace lineout jumper and caller in his preferred position would be the best for the Bulls in a quarter-final?
That is no slight on Van Heerden, who has come of age this season and is a future Springbok. But with everything on the line, Nortjé should be at No 5.
White has stated that there is a hole at blindside flank in the absence of Louw and Ludwig, but what about Wiese?
He first made his name at No 7 for the Stormers before moving to Sale Sharks in England, where he featured in the loose trio and No 4 lock.
Wiese has been excelling in the second row in recent weeks, but he may add even greater value at No 7 with his abrasive carries and excellent running lines.
Van Heerden can easily slot in at No 4 lock, and there is also a strong candidate in Ruan Vermaak available too.
Hanekom is the favourite at No 8, and rightly so, as he has been outstanding this season and will be a threat with ball-in-hand on the fast Loftus pitch.
But there is also merit in adopting a different strategy of softening up the wily Edinburgh loose trio of Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson and Magnus Bradbury with two more abrasive characters in Van Staden at openside and Coetzee at No 8.
They won't be deterred by the 'dark alley' skills of Ritchie and Watson around the breakdowns in particular.
Their confrontational styles could just be the tonic to disrupt Edinburgh's all-or-nothing approach upfront before Hanekom's silky running skills can come to the fore in the second half.
A six-two bench split could be on the cards as well, with Xaba's superb outing last week perhaps earning him a replacement spot.
URC Quarter-Finals (All SA Times)
Friday May 30
8.35pm: Glasgow Warriors v Stormers, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday May 31
1.30pm: Bulls v Edinburgh, Loftus Versfeld
4pm: Leinster v Scarlets, Aviva Stadium
6.30pm: Sharks v Munster, Kings Park
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