South Africa lock Lood de Jager has been ruled out of the Bulls side for their Super Rugby clash against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday with a shoulder injury.
The Springbok second-row player was forced from the field 15 minutes into last weekend’s 27-12 loss to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
Five-eighth Handre Pollard will take over the captaincy in De Jager’s absence, while junior Bok Eli Snyman will earn a first Super Rugby start in the number five jersey.
The Bulls have also included Sevens convert Dylan Sage in a new-look centre pairing with Jesse Kriel as he takes over from Burger Odendaal.
The Pretoria-based side started their Super Rugby season with an emphatic 40-3 mauling of the Stormers, but were poor in their error-strewn defeat to the Jaguares.