Ackermann opts for consistency for Glasgow semi-final clash

June 5, 2026 12

Bulls head coach, Johan Ackermann, has named a Springbok-laden team for their United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

Marcell Coetzee will captain the team as he earns his 100th Bulls cap and will lead the team for the 77th time. He will lead a side that features 11 Springboks in the starting line-up, including hooker Johan Grobbelaar, who makes his 150th appearance in blue.

Ackermann has retained the same starting XV that defeated Munster in the quarter-finals, with Francois Klopper again preferred at tighthead despite Wilco Louw’s return after he missed last week through illness.

Ruan Vermaak and Ruan Nortje are named as the lock pairing yet again while Coetzee is joined by Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom in the loose trio.

Player of the season, Embrose Papier, starts at scrum-half alongside Handre Pollard at fly-half, with Harold Vorster and Canan Moodie one again forming the midfield pairing. Willie le Roux starts at full-back, with Stravino Jacobs and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings.

“It’s a great privilege to be in the URC semi-final. After a long season, there are only four clubs left, and we are grateful to be one of those and to play the number one side. It shows the quality of their players, and we have a lot of respect for what they’ve achieved. Added to that is the opportunity to play at an iconic venue like Murrayfield,” Ackermann said.

“It will be an amazing day. It’s a good challenge and one we look forward to, a game of small margins, I suspect,” he added.

YOUR team to face the Glasgow Warriors tomorrow in the VURC Semi-Finals 🐂

⏰15:30
📍Murrayfield
📺 Supersport 201@Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/KnL14boQYz

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) June 5, 2026