Vodacom Bulls face resurgent Kings, Vodacom Super Rugby Preview Round 16
- Junior Bok star Juarno Augustus set for DHL Stormers debut
The Vodacom Bulls face the resurgent Southern Kings on Saturday in Pretoria and an exciting local Vodacom Super Rugby derby is expected in this match at Loftus Versfeld, which starts at 17h15.
This Round 16 match will be followed by the DHL Stormers’ home clash in Cape Town against the Sunwolves that starts at 19h30. The Cape side has already qualified for the playoffs as winners of the African Conference 1.
Wing Travis Ismaiel returns the Vodacom Bulls starting line-up as one of two changes for the match against the Kings.
Travis, a former Junior Springbok, resumes his regular spot from Kefense Mahlo for the match in one of two backline changes to the side that beat the Cell C Sharks in Durban last weekend. In the other change, Tian Schoeman is promoted off the bench and will start at flyhalf as a replacement for the injured Tony Jantjies.
Flyhalf Tinus de Beer will provide cover for Schoeman and is set make the first start if he is sent on, while Ruben van Heerden has also been named in the matchday squad for the first time.
The Southern Kings, meanwhile, have opted for consistency and made only one injury-enforced change to their side that beat the Jaguares in Buenos Aires last weekend.
Lock Wilhelm van der Sluys, who has been a consistent performer for the PE side since joining them earlier in the season on a loan agreement from Worcester Warriors, is sidelined after sustaining a concussion in last weekend’s match in Argentina. He is replaced by Lubabalo Mtyanda.
DHL Stormers captain Siya Kolisi and vice-captain, Eben Etzebeth both return to the starting team to face the Sunwolves at home on Saturday evening.
The Springbok pair were rested last week for the trip to Bloemfontein to face the Toyota Cheetahs, but will be back in action against the visiting Japanese side in a match that kicks off at 19:30 on Saturday.
The Cape side also welcomes back center Damian de Allende, who forms a new midfield combination with EW Viljoen. They replace the injured duo of Shaun Treeby and Juan de Jongh.
Dillyn Leyds now starts at fullback in place of the injured SP Marais, with Seabelo Senatla starting on the wing, with Bjorn Basson playing off the bench. As a result of injuries to Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Kobus van Dyk, World Rugby Under-20 Championship Player of the Tournament, Juarno Augustus, is set to make his debut on the flank.
Up front, Bongi Mbonambi starts at hooker alongside JC Janse van Rensburg and Frans Malherbe.
Vodacom Super Rugby Resources:
Vodacom Bulls v Southern Kings
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Duncan Matthews, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Nic de Jager, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Shaun Adendorff, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Burger Odendaal.
Southern Kings: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Lionel Cronje (captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Mzamo Majola. Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Masixole Banda, 23 Yaw Penxe.
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 8 July 2017
SA Time: 17h15
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Federico Anselmi
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Rasta Rasivhenge
Television match official: Johan Greeff
DHL Stormers v Sunwolves
DHL Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Juarno Augustus, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Bjorn Basson.
Sunwolves: TBA
Match information:
Date: Saturday, 8 July 2017
SA Time: 19h30
Venue: DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant Referees: Shuhei Kubo, AJ Jacobs
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Other Round 16 matches:
Friday, 7 July
11h45: Reds v Brumbies (Brisbane)
13h55: Western Force v Rebels (Perth)
Saturday, 8 July
11h45: Waratahs v Jaguares (Sydney)
Bye: Cell C Sharks, Emirates Lions, Toyota Cheetahs.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
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