Hanekom returns in big boost for Bulls while White makes big call at flyhalf

Bulls coach Jake White has ended Willie le Roux’s flirtation with the flyhalf position by picking Keagan Johannes at flyhalf for Saturday’s “clash of the giants” with Leinster while the return of No 8 Cameron Hanekom is a big boost for the home team.

Johannes is mostly a scrumhalf but can play 10 comfortably, and did so when the Bulls beat Benetton in Treviso last October.

White said that with Le Roux back at fullback, the veteran can assist Johannes. Over the years, Le Roux has often moved up from fullback to take the ball at first receiver.

“Keagan started against Benetton, who we beat away from home,” White said in backing in the 25-year-old. “They are a big team to beat if you look at their results this season and the number of internationals they have. I’m fully confident that Keagan will be okay on Saturday. He’s trained well and is confident.

“Moving Willie back to fullback was just to give Keagan a bit more calmness, guidance and understanding from the back. Willie can go through scenarios with him on the field in pressure situations and help him to play as well as he can.”

The Bulls have had issues at flyhalf because of a series of injuries to first-choice 10 Johan Goosen, who is just about ready to return.

“Johan is running now and training. He had been out for a long time, came back and got injured soon after.

“So I think the secret with him and all the other players who we will be bringing back is to have them mentally switched on and 100% committed to playing again at this level. I can’t have any doubts.

“Meanwhile, we will keep training with Johan and decide when the time is right for him to play.”

White has freshened up his team following the defeat to the Stormers a fortnight ago.

“As I’ve said before, we’re not going to keep the same group of players for every match. It’s been a long season and I said in week one that we’re going to keep rotating the team.

“There has been a balance between giving guys opportunities and keeping continuity. You obviously can’t make 15 changes.”

Much has been said about the strength of the Leinster side for this match because most of their Ireland internationals were left in Dublin to recover from the Six Nations, but White says there is no such thing as a weak Leinster side.

“The only people who are calling them a B team are the media. We’re not for one minute saying it’s a B team.

“Leinster are unbeaten and are the leaders in terms of creating depth. They understand that they’re not going to have their best players all the time because of international call-ups. And they’re still unbeaten.

“I have no doubt that they’re better this year after bringing in guys like (France prop) Rabah Slimani, (All Blacks centre) Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman (from Munster). They’ve already got their local players there who are really talented and they’ve been made stronger by surrounding them with seasoned campaigners.”

The return of hot property Hanekom and the experienced Marcel Coetzee are big boosts for the pack.

Bulls Team

15 Willie le Roux 14 Sebastian de Klerk 13 David Kriel 12 Harold Vorster 11 Stravino Jacobs 10 Keagan Johannes 9 Embrose Papier 8 Cameron Hanekom 7 Jannes Kirsten 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain) 5 JF van Heerden 4 Ruan Vermaak 3 Wilco Louw 2 Akker van der Merwe 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.

Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 18 Mornay Smith 19 Reinhardt Ludwig 20 Marco van Staden 21 Nizaam Carr 22 Zak Burge 23 Devon Williams.