Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has made 11 changes to his side for Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup clash against Pau at the Stade du Hameau.

Seven changes are in the pack where most notably lock and captain Ruan Nortje drops to the bench with flank Marcell Coetzee back in the starting lineup and leading the side.

There are four changes among the backs with the return of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheswill Jooste on the wings, injecting pace and proven finishing power. Their inclusion forces a reshuffle, with Sebastian de Klerk moving to outside centre.

The Bulls will again lean on experience at the spine, with flyhalf Handre Pollard and fullback Willie le Roux tasked with steering the ship in this crucial European fixture.

Ackermann has also stacked the bench with proven impact, with the likes of Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese and Jeandre Rudolph ready to be unleashed as the contest wears on.

CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 4: Bulls need big dose of luck

The Bulls must win and then await the outcome of the Scarlets’ game away to Northampton on Sunday night to see if they will progress to the last 16.

BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 David Kriel, 23 Jeandre Rudolph.

Weekend teams

Photo: Gruffydd Thomas/Gallo Images