Young Lions to show their talents against Jaguares

Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has given his young up-and-coming players the chance to display their rugby skills against the Jaguares over the weekend.

Announcing his Emirates Lions team to take on the passionate Jaguares on March 9, he will afford them to not only gain experience, but to bring them into the Vodacom Super Rugby system.

The match starts at 3.05pm at Emirates Airlines Park.

Wandisile Simelane, from the South, is knocking on the door of the senior Lions team. He’s been in the Lions rugby system since his u-13 years and was named South Africa Rugby Junior Springbok Player of the Year in 2018.

Ruan Vermaak, Vincent Tshituka, and on the bench Nathan McBeth, James Venter, both from Alberton, and Tyrone Green are all getting an opportunity.

De Bruin made some changes to his charges. Simelane will partner with Franco Naude in midfield, Sylvian Mahuza comes in at wing, Ross Cronje at scrum half, Kwagga Smith moves to number eight with Vincent Tshituka slotting in at seven while Vermaak will form the lock combination with Rhyno Herbst.

The only local Vodacom Super Rugby derby of the weekend will be when the Vodacom Bulls host the Cell C Sharks on Saturday from 5.05pm at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The DHL Stormers have a bye this weekend.

Pollard threat looms large as Durbanites shuffle line-up for Loftus

Vodacom Bulls coach Pote Human has made a number of changes to the team that beat the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg for Saturday’s home match against the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

In a rotational switch, scrum half Ivan van Zyl replaces fellow Springbok number nine Embrose Papier.

Up front, former Blitzbok Tim Agaba comes into the loose trio and takes over the number seven duties from Hanro Liebenberg, who moves to lock in place of Eli Snyman, next to Jason Jenkins. Jannes Kirsten is the second change in the loose trio and exchanges places with Ruan Steenkamp.

The Vodacom Bulls have been hit by injuries to star lock and captain Lood de Jager, as well as the promising second rower Snyman, and Steenkamp.

After naming the same starting line-up in three successive matches, Cell C Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has made four changes to his travelling starting XV.

Upfront, Gideon Koegelenberg will replace Ruan Botha at lock, with the uncapped Ruben van Heerden, a former Junior Springbok who still played provincial rugby in Pretoria last year, named on the bench and Wian Vosloo replacing Tyler Paul at flank. Jacques Vermeulen moves to the other side of the scrum to accommodate Vosloo.

In the back, Jeremy Ward and André Esterhuizen switch jerseys in midfield and Rhyno Smith replaces the injured Aphelele Fassi at full back. Curwin Bosch has recovered sufficiently from his niggle to be named among the replacements.

The Pretoria outfit have good form against their Durban opposition on their side – they are undefeated in their last seven fixtures against the men in black (W6, D1), including wins in all of their last three matches.

Handré Pollard’s team are a tough nut to crack when playing in local derbies anyway – they have won five of their last seven local games, including two already this year, against the DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions.

Pollard, who will be playing in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match on Saturday, has been in splendid form so far this campaign and is the leading point scorer after three rounds with 52 points. The Springbok fly half looms large as a big threat for the visitors as he has also scored a total of 50 points against them in their last four meetings.

Other Vodacom Super Rugby round four fixtures:

Saturday:

6.15am: Crusaders v Chiefs, Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch

8.35am: Blues v Sunwolves, QBE Stadium, North Harbour

10.45am: Waratahs v Reds, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

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