With Canan Moodie still out with concussion, the Vodacom Bulls will continue their experiment of keeping winger Sebastian de Klerk at 13, and giving their 19 year old prodigy Cheswill Jooste one of his toughest tests in his short career thus far.
Jooste, who scored a sensational try to turn the game back in the Bulls’ favour against French side PAU last Saturday, thereby allowing the Pretoria side to sneak into the playoff rounds of the Investec Champions Cup, will line up again on the wing against Scottish side Edinburgh in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash on Friday night.
Considering Edinburgh have brought back their big guns, including former Bulls winger and current British and Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe, it is going to be a massive test for the young winger.
YOUR team to face Edinburgh tomorrow night 😮💨
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 22, 2026
🏆Vodacom Bulls vs Edinburgh | 🗓️23 January 2026 | ⏰21:45 @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #TheUnbreakableLine pic.twitter.com/viA9JDaZnf
But with the Bulls deciding to continue with the De Klerk-Jooste combo at 13 and 14, and bringing in David Kriel at 12, there is a lot to look forward to if they can give the ball some air and put Jooste in space.
Conditions may have the ultimate say however, as the wind is set to bring a “fresh breeze from the east” and temperatures of five degrees will chill things out for the Bulls.
Still, Jooste, who has stunned with his performances at the Junior Boks and continues to impress since entering senior rugby, has his work cut out both on attack and defence.
Coach Johan Ackermann admitted it will be a big test for the youngster, but that the team have the confidence in him to succeed.
“It will be one of his biggest tests with the rain and wind that we are likely to get,” Ackermann said while announcing his side.
The Vodacom Bulls are struggling in the #URC right now 😔📉
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 22, 2026
Can they turn things around against Edinburgh on Friday night? 👀#SSRugby | #VURC pic.twitter.com/tAhpHmTObx
“Edinburgh are a side that kick a lot and they will test him there, and Duhan is as big as a lock and has speed. I’m really excited about this test for him, and I believe he will stand his ground on the night.
"The team will be around him and while it would have been great to have Canan’s experience in the backline, in the long term a game like this can do a lot for Cheswill’s development.
“Regardless of how the game goes, this will be good for Cheswill’s development.”
The Bulls are preparing themselves for a massive aerial battle and know the games between these two sides are normally high scoring and go to the home team. But after stopping their seven game losing streak they are keep to back that up with another win. And there is no reason why they can’t do just that.
Week 10 of the #VURC is almost upon us 💥 pic.twitter.com/rzg5AjlcJX
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 21, 2026
While the team have no less than eight Springboks on the sideline, a number of them are set to return soon and the coaches have still selected a strong team.
Apart from the long term injuries to Jan Serfontein, Gerhard Steenekamp, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Wiese has been given time off for the birth of his child while Elrigh Louw and Akker van der Merwe have both returned home with injuries but are expected back by the time the Bulls face the Lions.
Louw has a buttocks muscle injury while Van der Merwe has neck spasms and both are being treated conservatively.
The side selected against Edinburgh will be captained by Marcell Coetzee, despite the fact that regular captain Ruan Nortje comes back into the engine room after starting off the bench last weekend.
Wilco Louw returns at tighthead to partner Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels while Ruan Vermaak stays to partner Nortje. Celimpilo Gumede’s good form keeps him in the starting role alongside Coetzee and Jeandre Rudolph, who has been the find of the season for the Bulls.
Zak Burger partners Handre Pollard again while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux are the other members of the backline.
The Bulls also went with a five-three bench rather than a six two because they expect the aerial battle to be intense.
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Cheswill Jooste, Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Handre Pollard, Zak Burger; Jeandre Rudolph, Celimpilo Gumede, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: Marco van Staden, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs.