Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier will write another incredible chapter in his time at Loftus Versfeld when he gets onto the field in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Zebre Parma on Saturday, moving ahead of icon Joost van der Westhuizen as the Bulls’ most capped scrumhalf ever.
Papier, who was selected on the bench alongside his halfback partner Handre Pollard, will bring up his 170th game for the Bulls, passing Van der Westhuizen's record and will continue writing his name as one of the most consistent and deadly halfbacks that has donned the light blue jersey.
Papier is also second on the current season try-scoring list - on nine tries for the season, two behind Evan Roos of the DHL Stormers and is in such good form that there are many calls for him to be called up to the Bok squad again.
Papier’s milestone may only be a footnote in the season, but it is a significant goal for a player who has always given his all to the team and who continues to be one of their most dangerous attacking weapons.
His move to the bench is part of a strategy to give more game time to fringe squad members as the Bulls chase a bonus point win against the side at the bottom of the URC log.
Currently in seventh spot, the Bulls have a chance - if some other results go their way - to sneak into the top four in the final two weeks of the regular season, should they win both their last games.
Coach Johan Ackermann has made a multitude of changes to the side - most notably at halfback where he has changed the combination with Springbok veteran fullback Willie le Roux at flyhalf and former Stormer Paul de Wet in Papier’s place in the starting line-up.
Kurt-Lee Arendse moves to fullback, with Cheswill Jooste on the wing and veteran Sergeal Peterson making up a potent attacking back three.
David Kriel is unavailable for selection, as is Elrigh Louw, and although the Bulls haven’t revealed if they are injured, both could deserve a well-earned rest this weekend.
YOUR team to face the Italians tomorrow at LOFTUS 🤌
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 8, 2026
🆚Zebre | 9 May | 13:45
🎟️ https://t.co/9eZxO6xGZq @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/rE2vfudG9Q
In the front row, there is wholesale change from the Dragons game, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden moving into the starting line-up and Wilco Louw anchoring at tighthead.
Former SA under-20 captain JF van Heerden is back in the starting line-up, along with Ruan Vermaak, with captain Ruan Nortje getting a rest this week. In the loose forwards, Marcell Coetzee shifts to blindside to accommodate a return for Jeandre Rudolph on the openside flank. Cameron Hanekom remains at No 8 for the fixture.
At the back, the other change sees a return for Canan Moodie at 13, after he missed the Dragons fixture with a hamstring injury while on the bench, the Bulls have some power in Springboks Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Cobus Wiese, Pollard and Papier.
Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse; Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Sergeal Petersen; Willie le Roux, Paul de Wet; Cameron Hanekom, Marcell Coetzee, Jeandre Rudolph, JF van Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Cobus Wiese, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Stedman Gans.
Unavailable
David Kriel, Ruan Nortje, Akker van der Merwe, Nizaam Carr, Sebastian de Klerk, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Elrigh Louw.