Boland Cavaliers captain Marlyn Williams has been ruled out of Sunday’s Currie Cup match against the Vodacom Bulls in Wellington.

The lock suffered a facial fracture in the win against the Lions and is replaced by debutant Jurie van Vuuren, with No 8 Thurlow Marsh taking over the captaincy.

Experienced loose forward Sibusiso Sangweni has recovered from the ankle injury he picked up in round two and replaces Ludio Williams at blindside flank. Williams shifts to openside in place of Sauliegh Arendse.

In the front row, Mthokozisi Gumede gets his first start at loosehead prop, with Wayrin Losper dropping to the bench. Tighthead Doctor Booysen will make his first appearance of the campaign, replacing Dayan van der Westhuizen, who moves to the bench.

The backline is unchanged after Blitzboks speedster Donovan Don – who has scored six tries in the first three rounds – was declared fit to play.

Hooker Llewellyn Classen is in line to make his debut for Boland after joining from the Pumas ahead of the Currie Cup, while scrumhalf Godlen Masimla returns to the match-day squad in place of Chriswill September.

BOLAND KAVALIERS – 15 James Tedder, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (c), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Ludio Williams, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede.
Bench: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Wayrin Losper, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images