Two Springboks added to Bulls team to face All Blacks - Rugby's Greatest Rivalry

Friday, 14 August 2026 at 09:23

byTom Sansom

The Vodacom Bulls have made two late additions to their squad for Saturday's clash with the All Blacks, with Springboks Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar drafted onto the bench.

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The pair were released by Rassie Erasmus to get additional game time ahead of the upcoming Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series and have travelled back from Argentina to Pretoria.

Both players will provide cover from the replacements bench despite having completed just one training session with the Bulls.

Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann welcomed their arrival.

“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The late additions add further Springbok experience to a Bulls squad already containing four capped internationals, with captain Marcell Coetzee leading the side and Willie le Roux bringing significant experience to the back three.

There is also a welcome return for loose forward Hanro Liebenberg, who is back in South Africa following a productive spell with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.

Curwin Bosch returns for Bulls

Much of the attention will centre on flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who returns to the starting XV after two years playing in France. Long regarded as one of South Africa's most naturally gifted attacking flyhalves, Bosch will be tasked with attempting to unlock an All Blacks defence renowned for its aggressive line speed.

He will link up with scrumhalf Embrose Papier, while loose forward Jeandre Rudolph will be another key figure as the Bulls look to play with tempo and ambition.

There is also plenty of intrigue among the replacements, with Currie Cup standout Hakeem Kunene included alongside former Sharks and Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams.

Bulls chasing history against All Blacks

History is firmly on New Zealand's side heading into Saturday's encounter. The All Blacks have won three of the four previous meetings between the sides, with the Bulls' sole victory coming back in 1976.

Northern Transvaal famously defeated New Zealand 29-27 in August 1976, with Saturday's meeting coming almost exactly 50 years after that memorable result. The current Bulls side therefore has an opportunity to create a piece of history of its own when the All Blacks arrive at Loftus Versfeld.

With Springbok experience throughout the squad, Bosch back in the starting side and emerging talent pushing their claims, Ackermann's side will believe they have the ingredients to produce a major upset.