Big stakes in Gauteng derby – Vodacom Super Rugby Round 19 Preview
- Cell C Sharks face anxious wait for Rebels result before clash with Jaguares
The Emirates Lions tackle the Vodacom Bulls in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon with the knowledge that a victory in the Gauteng derby will secure them the SA Conference title and home ground advantage in next week’s playoffs. Kick-off at Emirates Airline Park is at 15h05.
Two hours later, the Cell C Sharks face the Jaguares in an equally important home tie at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban (17h15). The KwaZulu-Natalians still have an outside chance to reach the playoffs, but that prospect depends on the result of the early morning clash between the Highlanders and the Rebels in Dunedin (07h15 SA time).
The Rebels are currently on 35 points compared to the Durbanites’ 32 and a win in Dunedin will see them advance to the knockout stages irrespective of the result in Durban.
The DHL Stormers finished their commitments last week with a home win over the Cell C Sharks and are not in action this weekend.
Team news:
Emirates Lions coach Swys de Bruin announced three changes for the Gauteng derby against the Vodacom Bulls. Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan is set to start his first Vodacom Super Rugby match of the season after recovering from a long-term injury. He replaces fellow Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi, who now plays off the bench. Nic Groom comes in at scrumhalf for Ross Cronje, while Jacques van Rooyen starts at loosehead prop in place of Dylan Smith.
The Vodacom Bulls picked Manie Libbok at flyhalf as replacement for the injured Handré Pollard while Ivan van Zyl completes the halfback combination. Springbok lock RG Snyman will captain the side in the injury absence of regular captains Burger Odendaal and Pollard. Meanwhile, Travis Ismaiel is fit again and returns on the wing. There are some tweaks in the pack, with Jannes Kirsten moving to lock and Thembelani Bholi coming in at flank.
Cell C Sharks coach Robert du Preez has kept changes to a minimum for their important match against the Jaguares. Experienced Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira returns in place of Juan Schoeman after having his workload reduced last week, and Kobus van Wyk starts on the wing in place of the injured Sbu Nkosi. Good news for the Durbanites is that loose forward Dan du Preez has been cleared to play after taking a blow to neck last week in Cape Town, and the 22-year-old will take his place at No 8.
What they said:
According to Emirates Lions captain Warren Whiteley, he and his team are looking forward to playing in front of the Johannesburg faithful again: “We are excited because it’s been a while since we played here due to the international break and our bye of last week. We don’t focus too much on the permutations because we know the Vodacom Bulls will come hard at us – it’s a local derby, and we have to be prepared for that.”
Vodacom Bulls coach John Mitchell has challenged his squad to deliver one more good performance: “I asked the team for an extraordinary performance to close the season out. The other option is to just settle for an easy way to end the season, but that is not who we are as a team.”
Cell C Sharks lock Tyler Paul admitted there is no getting away from the fact that there is enormous pressure on the Cell C Sharks this week: “You want to play in high pressure games in professional rugby; these are the moments that make or break players or teams. So, this weekend is do or die for us, we must win. Unfortunately, there is another result we have to count on but if that goes our way then we will have to do the job.”
EMIRATES LIONS vs VODACOM BULLS
#LIOvBUL
Head to head:
Played: 24
Emirates Lions won: 10
Vodacom Bulls won: 14
Emirates Lions points: 685
Vodacom Bulls points: 706
Average score: 29-29
Teams:
Emirates Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Johannes Jonker, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman / Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Howard Mnisi / Shaun Reynolds.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 RG Snyman (captain), 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Matthys Basson, 18 Mornay Smit, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Nick de Jager, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Boeta Hamman, 23 Divan Rossouw.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 17 July 2018
SA time: 15h05
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs and Stephan Geldenhuys (SA)
Television match official: Christie du Preez (SA)
TV: SuperSport 1
CELL C SHARKS vs JAGUARES
#SHAvsJAG
Head to head:
Played: 5
Cell C Sharks won: 4
Jaguares won: 1
Cell C Sharks points: 108
Jaguares points: 104
Average score: 22-21
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.
Jaguares: TBA
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 14 July, 2018
SA time: 17h15
Venue: Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (SA)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds and Archie Sehlako (SA)
Television match official: Willie Vos (SA)
TV: SuperSport 1
Other Round 19 action (SA kick-off times):
Friday, 13 July:
09h35: Chiefs v Hurricanes, FMG Stadium, Waikato
11h45: Reds v Sunwolves, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, 14 July:
07h15: Highlanders vs Rebels Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
09h35: Crusaders vs Blues, AMI Stadium, Christchurch
11h45: Waratahs vs Brumbies, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Bye: DHL Stormers
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