Siya Kolisi to reach milestone in big local derby – Vodacom Super Rugby Round 12 Preview
- Mtawarira back to anchor scrum for Durbanites
- Dyantyi returns in reshuffled Emirates Lions team
Springbok flank Siya Kolisi makes his 100th appearance for the DHL Stormers on Saturday against traditional rivals the Vodacom Bulls in their important Vodacom Super Rugby Round 12 derby match in Cape Town, while hooker Scarra Ntubeni is set to play his 50th match off the bench for the home side.
This big South African derby match starts at 15h05 and will be televised live on SuperSport. The two South African sides will face each other in the only derby of the round, with both looking to keep in touch with local log leaders the Emirates Lions.
On Saturday morning the Emirates Lions continue with their New Zealand tour when they visit the Westpac Stadium in Wellington to face the Hurricanes from 09h35 (SA time).
Experienced Springbok prop Beast Mtawarira makes a welcome return to the Cell C Sharks side to take on the Highlanders at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban where this late Saturday afternoon fixture kicks off 17h15.
The Jaguares, the other team in the South African Conference, kick off the weekend’s action on Friday morning against the Chiefs in Rotorua (09h35).
Team news:
The DHL Stormers forward pack remains unchanged for the much-anticipated derby, while there are two positional changes in the starting backline. JJ Engelbrecht shifts to outside centre and Dillyn Leyds moves out wide, while SP Marais comes in at fullback and Raymond Rhule on the wing. On the bench, prop Frans Malherbe and flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis both make returns to action following long-term injuries.
Andre Warner will start at scrumhalf for the Vodacom Bulls against the DHL Stormers in this vital clash. The Cape Town-born Warner comes in for Ivan van Zyl, who now plays off the bench. The Pretoria outfit will wait on the fitness of Roelof Smit before deciding on their loose trio, while John Mitchell (head coach) has also bracketed Divan Rossouw and Travis Ismaiel at left wing.
Emirates Lions head coach, Swys de Bruin, made several changes to his team that lost to the Reds in an effort to bolster his side for their meeting with the Hurricanes in Wellington. Flanker Marnus Schoeman gets his first start for the team after making some big impacts off the bench lately. He will play at No 6, Kwagga Smith shifts to No 8 while Cyle Brink is the other flank. Captain Franco Mostert moves back to his regular lock position to partner Lourens Erasmus.
Dylan Smith and Jacobie Adriaanse both get a start as part of the front row rotation. Nic Groom is picked as starting scrumhalf, exciting wing Aphiwe Dyantyi is back and the midfield now consists of Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe.
Cell C Sharks coach, Robert du Preez, restored the vastly experienced Mtawarira to the starting line-up in place of Juan Schoeman who did a good job deputising for the Springbok front ranker. The other change to the front row sees Akker van der Merwe coming in for Chiliboy Ralepelle at hooker, while Stephan Lewies makes way for Tyler Paul in a rotational change at lock.
The rest of the Durban side is unchanged from the side that defeated the Stormers two weeks ago.
What they said:
Emirates Lions coach Swys de Bruin has called for a lift in intensity from his team: “Our decision making also needs to be much better than it was against the Reds. We’ll have to be much better this Saturday because the Hurricanes are very strong at the breakdowns and they hit the rucks hard. We’ll have to be clinical to secure and hold on to possession.”
DHL Stormers head Coach Robbie Fleck said his team is looking forward to what should be another classic North-South derby: “It is always a special occasion when these two teams meet and I am sure this match will be no exception. We are focused on building on the positive aspects of our win against the Rebels last week and ensuring that we are clinical in our execution on Saturday.”
According to Vodacom Bulls head coach, John Mitchell, the much-anticipated North- South derby will be a test in more than one way for his side. “There are more than log points to play for. We are always striving to improve on our previous effort and to grow as a team. That will again be the case. This will be as tough as SA derbies go, no doubt, which will be a good test for our discipline and game management.”
Robert du Preez, the Cell C Sharks head coach, is pleased to have Mtawarira back: “The big man’s experience cannot be denied over a period spanning more than a decade, but it must be said that the player who deputised for him, Juan Schoeman, has been outstanding when called on.”
HURRICANES vs EMIRATES LIONS
#HURvLIO
Head to head:
Played: 19
Hurricanes won: 15
Emirates Lions won: 4
Hurricanes points: 580
Emirates Lions points: 433
Average score: 31-23
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith. Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Emirates Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Franco Mostert (captain), 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 5 May
SA time: 09h35
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe and Richard Kelly Richard (NZ)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (NZ)
TV: SuperSport 1
DHL STORMERS vs VODACOM BULLS
#STOvsBUL
Head to head:
Played: 30
DHL Stormers: 17
Vodacom Bulls: 11
Draws: 1
DHL Stormers points: 667
Vodacom Bulls points: 648
Average score: 23-22
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain – 100th DHL Stormers cap), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni (50th DHL Stormers cap), 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Seabelo Senatla.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Divan Rossouw/Travis Ismaiel, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Thembelani Bholi/Marco van Staden, 7 Jason Jenkins/Thembelani Bholi, 6 Marco van Staden/Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements (from): Jaco Visagie, Frans van Wyk/Nqobisiwe Mxoli, Conrad van Vuuren, Hendre Stassen/Roelof Smit, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw/Travis Ismaiel.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 5 May
SA time: 15h05
Venue: DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZ)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds and Rasta Rasivhenge (SA)
Television match official: Willie Vos (SA)
TV: SuperSport 1
CELL C SHARKS vs HIGHLANDERS
#SHAvHIG
Head to head:
Played: 19
Cell C Sharks won: 11
Highlanders won: 8
Cell C Sharks points: 434
Highlanders points: 490
Average score: 23-26
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 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 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Lwazi Mvovo .
Highlanders: TBA
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 5 May
SA time: 17h15
Venue: Jonsson KINGS PARK, Durban
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs and Cwengile Jadezweni (SA)
Television match official: Christie du Preez (SA)
TV: SuperSport 1
Other Round 12 fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Friday, 4 May
09h35: Chiefs vs Jaguares, Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
11h45: Rebels vs Crusaders, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday, 5 May
09h35: Sunwolves vs Reds, Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
11h45: Waratahs vs Blues, Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Byes: Brumbies, Reds, Sunwolves
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