The Bulls made two changes to their starting XV for Saturday's United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Benetton in Pretoria.

Sebastian de Klerk has been named on the wing for the game in the place of the injured Springbok, Canan Moodie.

Upfront, Nizaam Carr, has been named on the blindside flank, in the place of Marco van Staden. Van Staden was also ruled out of the clash due to an injury.

‘He underwent surgery to repair a fractured index finger’

The former Cheetah, Sergeal Petersen, and Jannes Kirsten have been named on the bench as cover at wing and flank.

The Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, confirmed that Moodie underwent surgery to repair a fractured index finger, and he may miss the Springboks series against Ireland.

“Canan injured his hand against the Sharks last weekend and will be going for surgery on Friday,” said White.

“It is one of those where they will only be able to see how serious it is once they open him up. It is his index finger which influences his passing, on top of his pinkie a few weeks ago which he has strapped before.

‘He remains unavailable this week’

“I am not sure if it will be one of those that you can strap in a couple of weeks and play but he remains unavailable this week and the next. From the Boks' point of view, I hope it is not that serious so that he is ready for the Irish series.”

This quarter-final between the Bulls and Benetton at Loftus Versfeld starts at 15:30.

Bulls - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Replacements - 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sergeal Petersen

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh