After their lacklustre performance against the Waratahs last weekend, Bulls coach Phil Pretorius on Thursday cracked the whip by making eight changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's Super 12 game against the Brumbies in Canberra.

Out goes fullback Casper Steyn, whose goal kicking abilities seems to have deserted him this year, with Marius Goosen taking his place. Flyhalf Franco Smith is injured and Boeta Wessels will slot in at No 10.

Wessels disappointed in his only outing thus far - in the first game against the Sharks - and Pretorius will be hoping for a better performance from his pivot. The coach said Wessels would also take over the goal kicking duties.

The big shake-up was up-front, where six were made. Griquas No 8 Janneman Brand gets his first start this season in place of Springbok Anton Leonard, who moves to flank in place of Pierre Uys. Ralf Schroeder takes the place of Braam Els at lock, with Pierre Ribbens, Jannie Brooks and Gunder Williamson forming a brand new front row.

They replace Johan Human, Naka Drotske and Frikkie Bosman. The props are both injured, but veteran Springbok hooker Drotske will do bench duty.

Pretorius said on Thursday from Sydney, where the Bulls are based, that he had to make a choice between a clean sweep and a conservative approach. "I've opted for the first one, because it's time to get new blood in the team. We planned to give the rest of the players a chance on the tour anyway, so why not now?" he said.

He added that the new guys trained with great enthusiasm on Thursday. "I think they will try and grab the chance to prove themselves. We start with five new guys in the pack and it was a difficult decision to come to.

"You don't want to lose out on the co-ordination in the scrums and lineouts that the guys build up in two games, but then you need to weigh it up against the fresh injection of enthusiasm the new guys bring to the party. Then there's also the small matter of the group system.

"To make the system of rotation work, you need to give all the players a chance. If you play with the same players all the time, it could lead to dissatisfaction in your squad and we want to prevent that at all costs. Fortunately this group has been brilliant and there is no spitefulness at all."

Pretorius said he explained to the players the reasons for the changes and they took it in good spirits. "Naka is one of the tour selectors and it was very brave of him to be part of a decision to demote himself to the bench. No, these guys stick together," he said.

The coach said it is a worry that Wessels now has to take over the goal kicking. "He kicks for Griquas, so it wouldn't be right to say we don't have a recognised place kicker in the side. But Casper is one of the best kickers in the world, although he has a 33 per cent record this year. I'm confident that Boeta will do a good job."

Bulls: Marius Goosen; Frikkie Welsh, Adrian Jacobs, Danie van Schalkwyk, Friedrih Lombard; Boeta Wessels, Joost van der Westhuizen; Janneman Brand, Anton Leonard, Nicky van der Walt, Victor Matfield, Ralf Schroeder, Pierre Ribbens, Jannie Brooks, Gunder Williamson. Substitutes: Casper Steyn, McNeil Hendricks, Hakkies Husselman, Hendro Scholtz, Pierre Uys, Naka Drotske, Piet Boer.