The race is on for play-offs spots in Super Rugby

The DHL Stormers will be hoping to retain their top spot in the South African Vodacom Super Rugby Conference when they host the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday May 30, while the three other local teams are in action against Australian opposition.

Round 16 kicks off from a South African perspective when the Brumbies host the Vodacom Bulls in Canberra, a venue where the men from Pretoria have not won since 2007.

The Cell C Sharks are back at home and will be looking to extend the Rebels’ woes in South Africa when they host the team from Melbourne in Durban on Friday evening.

On Saturday evening, the Emirates Lions take on the one Australian team they’ve never beaten, the defending champion Waratahs, in Johannesburg.

In the fourth and penultimate match of the weekend, the DHL Stormers will celebrate 125 years of existence of their home ground, DHL Newlands, against the Toyota Cheetahs, the only local side they’ve lost against this year.
DHL Newlands is regarded as one of the most iconic rugby venues in the world, having hosted some memorable matches over the years and the DHL Stormers will be looking to increase their lead at the top of the South African Conference in this match on Saturday afternoon.

Brumbies vs Vodacom Bulls

The Vodacom Bulls have made six changes for this clash, four of them in the pack where Arno Botha, Grant Hattingh, Adriaan Strauss and Dean Greyling will start.

Jacques du Plessis, Callie Visagie and Trevor Nyakane move to the bench and Jaco Visagie drops out of the match-23 altogether.

In the backline, Jurgen Visser takes over at fullback from Jesse Kriel, who is also on the bench, while the injured Jan Serfontein is replaced at inside centre by Burger Odendaal.

In a late change, Morné Mellett was included on the bench for Werner Kruger.

The teams are:
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Robbie Coleman, Joe Tomane, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Ita Vaea, David Pocock, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio. Replacements: Josh Mann-Rea, Allan Alaalatoa, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Michael Dowsett, Nigel Ah Wong, James Dargaville.
Vodacom Bulls: Jurgen Visser, Francois Hougaard, JJ Engelbrecht, Burger Odendaal, Bjorn Basson, Handre Pollard, Rudy Paige, Pierre Spies (captain), Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Flip van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Callie Visagie, Trevor Nyakane, Morné Mellett, Jacques du Plessis, Lappies Labuschagne, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel.

Cell C Sharks vs Rebels

Ryan Kankowski is back at No 8 for the Cell C Sharks, with Renaldo Bothma moving to flank for Marcell Coetzee.
Willem Alberts is bracketed on the other flank with Etienne Oosthuizen. Khaya Majola will have an opportunity to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut should Alberts be ruled out following a fitness test later in the week.
An injury to Stephan Lewies paves the way for Mouritz Botha to be promoted from the bench.

In the backline, Frans Steyn has been ruled out through injury, which means Andre Esterhuizen will move to inside centre from wing, where he was a late replacement last weekend for Odwa Ndungane, who is back in the No 14 jersey.

There are also a number of new faces on the bench – Matt Stevens (for Dale Chadwick), Lubabalo Mtyanda (for Botha) and Heimar Williams (for Waylon Murray).

The teams are:
Cell C Sharks: Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Andre Esterhuizen, S’bura Sithole, Lionel Cronje, Stefan Ungerer, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts / Etienne Oosthuizen, Renaldo Bothma, Marco Wentzel (captain), Mouritz Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Franco Marais, Matt Stevens, Lourens Adriaanse, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Etienne Oosthuizen / Khaya Majola, Conrad Hoffmann, Fred Zeilinga, Heimar Williams.
Rebels: Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley, Safanaia Naivalu, Mitch Inman, Tom English, Jack Debreczeni, Luke Burgess, Scott Higginbotham, Coly Fainga’a, Sean McMahon, Lopeti Timani, Luke Jones, Laurie Weeks, Pat Leafa, Toby Smith. Replacements: Tom Sexton, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile,Cadeyrn Neville, Scott Fuglistaller, Nic Stirzaker, Jordy Reid, Bryce Hegarty.

DHL Stormers vs Toyota Cheetahs

Nic Groom returns at scrumhalf for the DHL Stormers in the only change to their backline for this clash. He replaces Louis Schreuder.

Upfront, Vincent Koch and Nizaam Carr will start, for Frans Malherbe and Schalk Burger respectively.

Burger gets a rest while Malherbe and Schreuder are on the bench, along with Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Oli Kebble.
The Toyota Cheetahs have made two changes to their backline, where Sergeal Petersen and Joe Pietersen take over from Cornal Hendricks and Francois Brummer respectively.

Upfront, Tienie Burger is back from injury and takes over from Carel Greeff at flank in the only change to their pack.
Sarel Pretorius is fit again and returns on the bench. Shaun Venter, Greeff, Hendricks and Brummer all drop out of the match-23.

The teams are:
DHL Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen (captain), Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Manuel Carizza, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Frans Malherbe, Jean Kleyn, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones.
Toyota Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Sergeal Petersen, Francois Venter, Michael van der Spuy, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Tian Meyer, Willie Britz, Boom Prinsloo, Tienie Burger, Francois Uys (captain), Carl Wegner, Maks van Dyk, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Steven Sykes, Henco Venter, Sarel Pretorius, Coenie van Wyk, Rayno Benjamin.

Emirates Lions vs Waratahs

The Emirates Lions’ front row rotation continues this week – Julian Redelinghuys and Schalk van der Merwe are the props, while Armand van der Merwe takes over at hooker from the suspended Robbie Coetzee.

In the only backline change, Harold Vorster takes over at inside centre from Howard Mnisi.

Malcolm Marx, who last played in Round 2, is back on the bench and will be joined by Corne Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, Marnitz Boshoff and Stokkies Hanekom. Blitzbok star Kwagga Smith has also retained his spot amongst the reserves.
The match will get under way at 19:10. A curtain-raiser between Linden High School and Bastion High School will be played at 16:00.
Tickets are still available for the match via Lionsrugby.computicket.com, including an exciting package deal which includes transport, dinner and a match ticket for just R150.

The teams are:
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (captain), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Julian Redelinghuys, Armand van der Merwe, Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Corne Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, Robert Kruger, Kwagga Smith, Ross Cronje, Marnitz Boshoff, Stokkies Hanekom.
Waratahs: TBC
Other fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Friday, May 29:09:35: Crusaders v Hurricanes – NelsonSaturday, May 30:09:35: Highlanders v Chiefs – Invercargill
11:40: Force v Reds – Perth
Bye: Blues