Northern rivals go head to head in Jukskei derby – Vodacom Super Rugby Round 13 Preview
- DHL Stormers seek improvement at home
- Southern Kings aim for four in a row
- Toyota Cheetahs, Cell C Sharks on tour
Northern neighbours, the Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls, go head to head on Saturday in a big Vodacom Super Rugby derby in Johannesburg which kicks off at 17h15.
Although these sides, on opposite sides of the Jukskei River, are experiencing contrasting fortunes so far this season, their fans can still expect a typical, hard-fought derby.
The Emirates Lions returned home on the back of three straight wins on the road in Australia and they are taking on a Pretoria side who have struggled so far this year.
Johan Ackermann has named a strong line-up and fresh new front row which sees Jacques van Rooyen, Malcolm Marx and Ruan Dreyer coming back into the starting line-up. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has been named on the bench.
Meanwhile, in Pretoria, Vodacom Bulls coach Nollis Marais has named Tuks wing Sibahle Maxwane in what will be the 21-year-old’s tournament debut. Marais also made three other changes to his backline – Maxwane replaces the injured Jamba Ulengo, while Jan Serfontein (centre) and Francois Brummer (flyhalf) were handed starting roles. Jesse Kriel shifts back to fullback. Up front, Springbok lock Lood de Jager moves back into the starting line-up in place of the suspended RG Snyman.
Following their return from New Zealand and last week’s bye, the DHL Stormers return to action on Friday evening when they face the visiting Blues at DHL Newlands in a 19h00 kick-off. The Capetonians welcome back Springbok tight forwards Frans Malherbe (prop), Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit (locks) in their run-on team.
Regular locks Etzebeth and Du Toit have both shrugged off their injury niggles, while tighthead prop Malherbe was rested against the Hurricanes two weeks ago. Versatile back Dillyn Leyds steps into the flyhalf role as a replacement for the injured Robert du Preez, with fit-again Seabelo Senatla taking his place on the left wing. Experienced centre Damian de Allende returns from an ankle injury to feature on the bench.
The travelling Toyota Cheetahs play their second match on the road in New Zealand when they face the Hurricanes on Saturday fixture (09h35) at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.
Franco Smith’s men have been involved in a lot of high-scoring matches this year and Free Staters will be eager for an improved performance at the Cake Tin.
Smith made a number his changes to his team that lost to the Blues in Auckland last week. Up front Ox Nche replaces Charles Marais at loosehead prop, Elandre Huggett comes in for Torsten van Jaarsveld at hooker and Johan Coetzee swaps places with Tom Botha at tighthead. Carl Wegner will wear the No 5 jersey and Armandt Koster packs at No 4.
Flanker Uzair Cassiem is also back in the starting team, replacing Niell Jordaan. In the back division, Shaun Venter starts at scrumhalf in place of Tian Meyer, while Clinton Swart is the new inside centre.
Meanwhile, in the Far East, the Cell C Sharks visit the Singapore National Stadium for their 13h55 clash with the Sunwolves, while later on Saturday evening the Southern Kings host the Brumbies in Port Elizabeth.
Following their close defeat to the Kings last week in PE, coach Robert du Preez has named a reshuffled Cell C Sharks line-up for their match in Singapore with the Sunwolves. Some of the significant changes include a fresh front row consisting of Thomas du Toit, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Lourens Adriaanse. None of fullback Rhyno Smith (pectoral muscle tear), centre Jeremy Ward (broken nose) or Pat Lambie (concussion symptoms) made the trip to the Far East.
Kings coach, Deon Davids, has been forced to make three changes to his side for the Brumbies’ visit to the Nelson Mandela Stadium. New casualties on the PE side’s injury list include instrumental loose-forward Chris Cloete (concussion) and fullback Masixole Banda (hamstring), while lock Wilhelm van der Sluys withdrew on Thursday with a groin injury.
Stefan Willemse slots in the No 6 jersey as a replacement for Cloete, while Namibian international Chrysander Botha starts at fullback in Banda’s place. Lubabalo Mtyanda will don the No 5 jersey as a replacement for Van der Sluys.
In the remaining match on Sunday, the Waratahs entertain the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney at 08h05.
Vodacom Super Rugby Resources:
2017 MEDIA GUIDE | MATCH PACKS| MATCH CENTRE
DHL Stormers v Blues
DHL Stormers: 15. SP Marais, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. EW Viljoen, 12. Shaun Treeby, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 10. Dillyn Leyds, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Siya Kolisi (captain), 6. Kobus van Dyk, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Oli Kebble. Replacement: 16. Ramone Samuels, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Jan de Klerk, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Jano Vermaak, 22. Brandon Thomson, 23. Damian de Allende.
Blues: 15. Melani Nanai, 14. Matt Duffie, 13. George Moala, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Piers Francis, 9. Augustine Pulu, 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Blake Gibson, 6. Steven Luatua, 5. Scott Scrafton, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons (captain), 1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Replacements: 16. Hame Faiva, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Kara Pryor, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Michael Collins.
Match information:
Date: Friday, 19 May
SA Time: 19h00
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Cwengile Jadezweni
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Hurricanes vs Toyota Cheetahs
Hurricanes: 15. Beauden Barrett, 14. Wes Goosen, 13. Vince Aso, 12. Ngani Laumape, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Otere Black, 9. TJ Perenara (captain), 8. Brad Shields, 7. Ardie Savea, 6. Reed Prinsep, 5. Vaea Fifita, 4. Sam Lousi, 3. Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 1. Ben May. Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Mike Kainga, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Jordie Barrett, 23 Ben Lam.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Sergeal Petersen, 13. Francois Venter (captain), 12. Clinton Swart, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Henco Venter, 7. Oupa Mohoje, 6. Uzair Cassiem, 5. Carl Wegner, 4. Armandt Koster, 3. Johan Coetzee, 2. Elandre Huggett, 1. Ox Nche. Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. Charles Marais, 18. Tom Botha, 19. Francois Uys, 20. Niell Jordaan, 21. Tian Meyer, 22. Niel Marais, 23. Ruan van Rensburg.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 20 May
SA Time: 09h35
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Will Houston, Ben O’Keeffe
Television match official: Ben Skeen
Sunwolves v Cell C Sharks
Sunwolves: 15. Kotaro Matsushima, 14. Shota Emi, 13. Ryohei Yamanaka, 12. Harumichi Tatekawa (captain), 11. Kenki Fukuoka, 10. Yu Tamura, 9. Fumiaki Tanaka, 8. Willem Britz, 7. Shuhei Matsuhashi, 6. Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 5. Noahiro Kotaki, 4. Sam Wykes, 3. Yasuo Yamaji, 2. Shota Horie, 1. Keita Inagaki. Replacements: 16. Takeshi Hino, 17. Masataka Mikami, 18. Takuma Asahara, 19. Hitoshi Ono, 20. Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 21. Keisuka Uchidam 22. Jumpei Ogura, 23. Yasutaka Sasakura.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Johan Deysel, 11. S’busiso Nkosi, 10. Garth April, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Daniel du Preez, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Philip van der Walt (captain), 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Ruan Botha, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Thomas du Toit. Replacements: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Tendai Mtawarira, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Tera Mtembu, 21. Rowan Gouws, 22. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23. S’bura Sithole.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 20 May
SA Time: 13h55
Venue: National Stadium, Singapore
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant referees: Aki Aso, Tasuku Kawahara
Television match official: Minoro Fuji
Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls
Emirates Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Sylvian Mahuza, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Ruan Ackermann, 6. Kwagga Smith, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Johannes Jonker, 19. Lourens Erasmus, 20. Cyle Brink, 21. Faf de Klerk, 22. Jacques Nel, 23. Anthony Volmink.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 .Jesse Kriel, 14. Jade Stighling, 13. Jan Serfontein, 12. Burger Odendaal, 11. Sibahle Maxwane, 10. Francois Brummer, 9. Rudy Paige, 8. Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7. Jannes Kirsten, 6. Ruan Steenkamp, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Jason Jenkins, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Pierre Schoeman, 18. Coenraad van Vuuren, 19. Abongile Nonkontwana, 20. Nic de Jager, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Tony Jantjies, 23. Warrick Gelant.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 20 May
SA Time: 17h15
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Pro Legoete
Television match official: Marius Jonker
Southern Kings v Brumbies
Southern Kings: 15. Chrysander Botha, 14. Alshaun Bock, 13. Berton Klaasen, 12. Luzuko Vulindlu, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Lionel Cronjé (captain), 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Andisa Ntsila, 7. Tyler Paul, 6. Stefan Willemse, 5. Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4. Irne Herbst, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Martin Bezuidenhout, 1. Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: 16. Kurt Haupt, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19. Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20. Thembelani Bholi, 21. Johan Steyn, 22. Stokkies Hanekom, 23. Pieter-Steyn de Wet.
Brumbies: TBA
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 20 May
SA Time: 19h30
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds, Rodney Boneparte
Television match official: Christie du Preez
Other Round 13 matches:
Friday, 19 May
09h35: Chiefs v Crusaders (Suva, Fiji)
Saturday, 20 May
11h45: Western Force v Highlanders (Perth)
Sunday, 21 May
08h05: Waratahs v Melbourne Rebels (Sydney)
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
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