Devastating Jan-Hendrik Wessels can lead Bulls charge as Jake White must be brave to gain Munster URC revenge

Will Jake White take the proverbial bull by the horn with his team selection against Munster?

The Bulls director of rugby has had to “mix and match”, as he put it, over the last few weeks as he negotiated two United Rugby Championship games against Leinster and Zebre in Pretoria, as well as the two Challenge Cup playoffs against Bayonne and Edinburgh in Europe.

But after the Bulls were knocked out of the Challenge Cup in the 34-28 loss in Scotland last weekend, the time has come for the best possible team to feature in what is a vital showdown with Munster in Limerick on Saturday (6.15pm start).

Following the Munster encounter, the Bulls will take on defending champions Glasgow in Scotland next week Friday (8.35pm) in a game that could decide second spot on the log.

The Bulls are third on 50 points, four behind Glasgow, with Leinster well ahead on 62.

Glasgow have a tricky outing in Italy against a much-improved Zebre on Saturday night, and will be licking their wounds from last week’s 52-0 Champions Cup quarter-final annihilation at the hands of Leinster in Dublin.

So, the Bulls must go all out to beat Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday, and if they get their combinations right, they have the firepower to knock over the 2023 champions and gain revenge for last year’s 27-22 defeat at Loftus Versfeld.

Canan Moodie was in top form off the bench against Edinburgh, and the Springbok wing simply has to don the No 14 jersey as he looks to have regained his sharpness with ball-in-hand and will be an asset under the high-ball barrage from Munster.

The centre pairing has been a big talking point this season, with Stedman Gans regarded by many as the best No 13 in Pretoria.

White, though, has largely stuck with the hard-running Harold Vorster at No 12 and shifted the more creative David Kriel to outside centre.

Vorster has brought his physical attributes to charge up the middle, and produced a stunning break in that fashion to set up Kriel’s try last week.

But Gans has the better skill-set out of the three, and his speed and classy touches could prove more valuable than Vorster’s direct approach to unlock the Munster defence – and also allow Kriel to play at No 12, where he is much more effective.

Another major call White will make on Friday is at flyhalf. He is likely to bring in Johan Goosen following his impressive cameo off the bench in Edinburgh, but is this fair to Keagan Johannes?

The latter has done a sterling job at No 10 since being asked to switch from scrumhalf once Goosen and then Willie le Roux were injured.

Johannes has time on the ball on attack and a mature tactical kicking boot, and is now familiar with the rest of the backline after starting four games in a row against Leinster, Zebre – where he was the Player of the Match – Bayonne and Edinburgh.

He perhaps needs to back himself more on taking on the defence himself with ball-in-hand, and having a go to put his teammates into space.

Goosen chanced his arm much more on attack when coming on for the second half against Edinburgh, but is also still making his way back to full fitness after his knee injury, and may be better suited to an impact role at the moment.

Embrose Papier has been missed for his speed and game-breaking abilities at scrumhalf, although Zak Burger was outstanding against Bayonne, but was let down by a number of mistakes in Edinburgh.

The Bulls need the hard edge of Reinhardt Ludwig at blindside flank, with Marcell Coetzee at openside to counter the impressive Munster loose forwards such as veteran Peter O’Mahony and Gavin Coombes – although one wonders if they might not be rested after the Leinster thrashing.

Youngster JF van Heerden has done a great job filling in at No 5 lock, but captain Ruan Nortjé needs to shift over to his regular position, with someone like Jannes Kirsten capable of doing the hard yards at No 4.

Wilco Louw has been a rock at tighthead prop, but Jan-Hendrik Wessels must be utilised from the start at loosehead prop with his blockbuster charges with the ball and work-rate in defence.

Johan Grobbelaar returned from injury off the bench last week, but after the lineout problems in Edinburgh, he needs to start in Limerick.

White should also be brave on the bench and opt for a six-two split to counter the physical Munster pack, where Springbok lock Jean Kleyn will be a big factor.

With Johannes able to cover scrumhalf as well, there is no need for a second No 9, which could open the door for two loose-forward replacements in the experienced Nizaam Carr and young tyro Mpilo Gumede.

Possible Bulls Team v Munster

15 Devon Williams 14 Canan Moodie 13 Stedman Gans 12 David Kriel 11 Stravino Jacobs 10 Keagan Johannes 9 Embrose Papier 8 Cameron Hanekom 7 Reinhardt Ludwig 6 Marcell Coetzee 5 Ruan Nortjé 4 Jannes Kirsten 3 Wilco Louw 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe 17 Simphiwe Matanzima 18 Mornay Smith 19 JF van Heerden 20 Nizaam Carr 21 Mpilo Gumede 22 Johan Goosen 23 Sergeal Petersen.