Super Rugby: Bulls v Brumbies preview

Leon Power: Brumbies lock fit to start

Flip van der Merwe: Will return to captain the Bulls on Friday

The Bulls will welcome back captain Flip van der Merwe for Friday’s Super Rugby clas against the Brumbies in Pretoria.

The lock’s return is one of three changes to the side that beat the Stormers two weeks ago.

Werner Kruger comes in at tight-head prop for Marcel van der Merwe, while Jacques-Louis Potgieter takes the number ten jersey with Handre Pollard dropping to the bench.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke welcomed Van der Merwe back into the fold for an important game against the second placed Brumbies.

“Flip’s leadership is very important to the team and as a senior player he does set an excellent example,” Ludeke told the clubs official website.

“We will need to be at our best in facing a Brumbies side that has played some great rugby this year. We have made slight changes for the match and rotated certain players and I believe we will be competitive come Friday.”

Van der Merwe has high hopes for the game and the possibility of securing a play-off spot with five games remaining.

“We are well rested following a bye last week and we trained well this week. It is important to start the match with a lot of energy and I believe everyone will do so,” Van der Merwe said.

“We don’t look ahead in the competition, but know how important a win will be with regards to a possible play-off spot.”

Power boost

Leon Power returns to the Brumbies’ starting XV after recovering from a knee strain.

Power is included at lock and Scott Fardy switches to blindside flanker, while Fotu Auelua and Jordan Smiler come onto the bench and Tom McVerry drops out of the match-day squad.

Bulls: 15 Visser, 14 Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Serfontein, 11 Basson, 10 Potgieter, 9 Hougaard; 1 Greyling, 2 Visagie, 3 Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe (capt), 5 Matfield, 6 Ross, 7 Du Plessis, 8 Hattingh

Replacements: 16 Mbonambi, 17 Mellett, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Willemse, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Pollard, 23 Beyers

Brumbies: 15 Mogg, 14 Speight, 13 Kuridrani, 12 Lealiifano, 11 Coleman, 10 Toomua, 9 White; 1 Sio, 2 Moore, 3 Alexander, 4 Power, 5 Carter, 6 Fardy, 7 Butler, 8 Mowen (capt)

Replacements: 16 Mann-Rea, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 JP Smith, 19 Auelua, 20 Smiler, 21 Hoffmann, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 McCabe

Super Rugby: Bulls v Brumbies preview