Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs will fly the South African flag Down Under this weekend as the Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks get ready to tackle opposition from across the waters at home in the sixth round of Vodacom Super Rugby.
With the first half of their tour completed, the Emirates Lions will now shift their attention to the Aussie teams as they prepare for their first-ever visit to Melbourne. As a franchise, they have never won twice on tour in Australasia and will be hoping to tick that box on Friday morning, March 20.
Saturday sees three South African teams in action. First up Toyota Cheetahs face the seven-time champion Crusaders in Christchurch, a venue that has been unkind to teams from South Africa for close to two decades.
At home, Vodacom Bulls have their first match of the season against an Australian team when they take on the unpredictable Force in Pretoria.
Cell C Sharks will be trying to inflict defeat on the Chiefs in Durban on Saturday evening, and should they succeed it will amount to the team from Waikato’s third loss in South Africa since the 2009 Final.
DHL Stormers have a bye this weekend. They leave for their Australasian tour on Saturday. They announced the following 27-man touring squad and on Tuesday:
Ruan Botha, Schalk Burger, Manuel Carizza, Nizaam Carr, Demetri Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh (vice-captain), Eben Etzebeth, Nic Groom, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Steven Kitshoff, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Johnny Kotze, Dillyn Leyds, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Scarra Ntubeni, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Kobus van Wyk, Alistair Vermaak, Duane Vermeulen (captain).
Melbourne Rebels vs Emirates Lions
In the Emirates Lions’ back line, only Lionel Mapoe remains in his place from last weekend. Elton Jantjies and Sampie Mastriet will play in different jerseys, while Jaco van der Walt, Courtnall Skosan, Marnitz Boshoff and Faf de Klerk will start.
Upfront, there is a change at flank, with Derick Minnie rotating with Jaco Kriel, as well as lock, where Robert Kruger comes in for Martin Muller.
The entire front row has changed – Ruan Dreyer, Armand van der Merwe and Schalk van der Merwe will start on Friday.
Joining Kriel on the bench are Andries Coetzee, Harold Vorster, Ross Cronje, Julian Redelinghuys, Cornè Fourie and Robbie Coetzee, all of whom started last weekend.
“We were highly disappointed with the mistakes we made and the level of intensity we played at (against the Crusaders). It’s frustrating that we are creating opportunities by breaking the line or beating the opponents, but we didn’t finish as well as the sides we played against. We are working on that and hopefully the players will make the right decisions.
“The Rebels are a very good side and almost incomparable to the side from the last few years. They won in Christchurch and Perth and are playing good rugby. In all their matches they’ve been in the contest and push hard for 80 minutes, so we will have to play very well to get the result on Friday,” said head coach of the Lions Johan Ackermann.
The teams are:
Melbourne Rebels: Jonah Placid, Dom Shipperley, Tamati Ellison, Mitch Inman, Tom English, Mike Harris, Nic Stirzaker, Scott Higginbotham, Scott Fuglistaller, Sean McMahon, Lopeti Timani, Luke Jones, Laurie Weeks, Pat Leafa, Toby Smith. Replacements: Tom Sexton, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Steve Cummins, Colby Fainga’a, Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Sefanaia Naivalu.
Emirates Lions: Jaco van der Walt, Sampie Mastriet, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Courtnall Skosan, Marnitz Boshoff, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (captain), Warwick Tecklenburg, Derick Minnie, Franco Mostert, Robert Kruger, Ruan Dreyer, Armand van der Merwe, Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Corne Fourie, Julian Redelinghuys, Andries Ferreira, Jaco Kriel, Ross Cronje, Harold Vorster, Andries Coetzee.
Crusaders v Toyota Cheetahs
Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks gets a rest this week and is replaced by Clayton Blommetjies, while Tian Meyer takes over at scrumhalf from Sarel Pretorius, who stayed behind in South Africa in anticipation of the birth of his second child.
Upfront, Heinrich Brüssow makes a return at flank, while Boom Prinsloo moves to the bench, where he will be joined by Shaun Venter.
The teams are:
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Daniel Carter, Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andrew Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Tom Taylor, David Kaetau Havili.
Toyota Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Clayton Blommetjies, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Tian Meyer, Jean Cook, Oupa Mohoje, Heinrich Brussow, Francois Uys (captain), Carl Wegner, Coenie Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Maks van Dyk, Steven Sykes, Boom Prinsloo, Shaun Venter, Willie du Plessis, Rayno Benjamin
Vodacom Bulls v Force
The props swop places from the last outing against the Toyota Cheetahs, with Marcel van der Merwe and Dean Greyling starting for the first time this season and Trevor Nyakane and Mornè Mellett moving to the bench.
Victor Matfield will start on the bench, having switched places with Grant Hattingh, who makes a first start this season.
Hooker Jaco Visagie, who comes into the team for the injured Callie Visagie, could make his tournament and team debut, should he be called into action.
The teams are:
Vodacom Bulls: Jesse Kriel, Francois Hougaard, JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Bjorn Basson, Handrè Pollard, Rudy Paige, Pierre Spies (captain), Lappies Labuschagne, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Jacques du Plessis, Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Mornè Mellett, Trevor Nyakane, Victor Matfield, Arno Botha, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Jurgen Visser.
Force: Luke Morahan, Marcel Brache, Kyle Godwin, Luke Burton, Nick Cummins, Sias Ebersohn, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Kane Koteka, Steve Mafi, Adam Coleman, Sam Wykes (captain), Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Pekahou Cowan. Replacements: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Oliver Hoskins/Guy Millar, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Angus Cottrell, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Solomoni Jnr Rasolea.Cell C Sharks v Chiefs.
Experienced lock Marco Wentzel is the only new face in the starting line-up, replacing the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit at lock.
On the bench, Lubabalo Mtyanda comes in for Wentzel and Waylon Murray returns at the expense of Jack Wilson.
The teams are:
Cell C Sharks: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Marco Wentzel, Mouritz Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (captain), Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Lourens Adriaanse, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Daniel du Preez, Conrad Hoffmann, Andre Esterhuizen, Waylon Murray.
Chiefs: TBC
Other fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Friday March 20:08:35: Highlanders v Hurricanes – Dunedin
Sunday March 22:
07:05: Waratahs v Brumbies – Sydney
Bye: DHL Stormers, Blues, Reds
