The 32-year old utility back’s release papers arrived from the NEC Green Rockets club in Japan early Friday morning, resulting in his successful registration as a Bulls player for the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 season.

This prompted coach Frans Ludeke to include the former Springbok flyhalf to the bench where he was bracketed with John Mametsa.

“John can be considered unlucky, but we had an open chat with him and he understands why we want Jaco into the mix as soon as possible,” Ludeke said.

“We are looking for some utility of the bench in this game and with Jaco being able to play flyhalf, wing and fullback, he edged out John, who is a specialist wing,” Ludeke indicated.

Van der Westhuyzen admitted at having stage fright on Monday when he trained with the Bulls for the first time. “It was a bit of a system overload for me, to be honest. I never expected the Bulls to progress that much since I last played for them in 2007. But I am happy to say that I have slotted in well during training and am really looking forward to this match and to make a contribution.”

The Bulls will have a new loose forward combination in Danie Rossouw, Derick Kuün and Pedrie Wannenburg, with Kuün making a start at flank again after two years in the hooker position.

Rossouw replaces Pierre Spies, sidelined with a knee strain.

Kuün replaces Deon Stegmann in a rotational switch and indicated his willingness to put his body on the line.

“It is great for me to play openside again and I am really looking forward to the challenge. A couple of things have changed since I last played as an out and out fetcher, but I think I will cope,” the former Afrikaans Boys High School pupil said.

The Waratahs arrived in Pretoria late, but by being early at the point of breakdown and beating the Bulls at the collisions could lay the foundation to a rare Loftus win, former Waratahs hooker, Adam Freier, suggested in his preview on rugbyheaven.co.au.

Based on current form, a 12 match winning streak at Loftus and a pack on fire, it is hard to see Freier’s advice being put to practice by the Waratahs.

The teams are:

Vodacom Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Derick Kuün, Victor Matfield ©, Flip vd Merwe, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Heini Adams, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

Waratahs: Sosene Anesi, Lachie Turner, Tom Carter, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (c), Ben Mowen, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Will Caldwell, Locky McCaffrey, Josh Holmes, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne.

Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Kick-off: 19h10

Expert view:

Whether it is a ploy or not but the Bulls graciousness and lack of boasting in victory is working wonders for the defending Super 14 champions.

Last week, in their victory against the Brumbies the Bulls showed that they had the grit and technical know how to dispatch of any would be pretenders to their throne.

However, it is the belief within the team and the work ethic that have made Victor Matfield’s men so dangerous while always giving opposing teams the false sense of belief that they can win at Loftus Versfeld because their hosts remain critical of their game in their quest to attain the perfect game.

The Waratahs will be no different to the Brumbies who came to Loftus believing that they could change history and be victorious against the elements of altitude, a hostile and knowledgeable crowd and a rampant Bulls team unwilling to relent on their 12 match unbeaten run in the Super 14 at Loftus.

Coming off a defeat in Cape Town against the Stormers, the Waratahs will have to come with their self confidence in check because a sniff of doubt by the Bulls could see the Australians on the wrong side of the scoreboard like the Brumbies did after leading 27-20 in the 50th minute only to finish as 50-32 losers.

There has been little change to the Bulls team with the evergreen Derick Kuün getting a nod to start at flank for the first time in three years while Danie Rossouw returns to the team for a rare start at number eight, the position he commanded with great aplomb in the 2007 World Cup final.

The only words that may bare any meaning for the Waratahs are “Good Luck” because the rugby gods, Loftus and the reigning Super 14 champions the Bulls won’t be kind to them come Saturday.
Vata Ngobeni, Pretoria News

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 26, Waratahs 17
2007: Waratahs 19, Bulls 23
2008: Bulls 16, Waratahs 13
2009: Waratahs 6, Bulls 20.