All five the South African Vodacom Super Rugby teams are in action this weekend and two will have new captains leading them out.
DHL Stormers and Cell C Sharks have entrusted the captaincy to Juan de Jongh and Jean Deysel respectively, in the place of Duane Vermeulen and Bismarck du Plessis.
In a third “captaincy change”, Toyota Cheetahs’ Francois Uys is back after pulling out of last weekend’s match against the Crusaders at the 11th hour, with Heinrich Brüssow taking over.
Uys and his team have another tough task this weekend, when they face the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday morning.
This match is followed by DHL Stormers against the Highlanders, where Schalk Burger will reach the special milestone of playing in his 100th Vodacom Super Rugby match.
The two-time SA Rugby Player of the Year will become the 34th member of local Vodacom Super Rugby centurions.
The 31-year-old Burger, who made a remarkable recovery from serious injury and illness at the end of 2013 after 18 months on the sidelines, made his DHL Stormers debut at DHL Newlands against the Waratahs on March 13, 2004, a match won 27-23 by the Capetonians.
Burger made his Test debut a couple of months earlier, at the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003, making him one of only 22 Springboks who played Test rugby before featuring in Vodacom Super Rugby.
The others are (in order of Test debut): Dawie Theron, Henry Tromp, Andre Venter, Russell Bennett, Andrew Aitken, Franco Smith, Gaffie du Toit, Kaya Malotana, Marius Joubert, Joe van Niekerk, Lawrence Sephaka, Brent Russell, Jean de Villiers, CJ van der Linde, Tim Dlulane, Michael Claassens, Bryan Habana, Meyer Bosman, Jaco Pretorius, Frans Steyn and Hilton Lobberts.
The three other matches featuring South African teams are on Friday morning and Saturday afternoon.
First up, the Emirates Lions play their final tour match in Brisbane against a Reds side aiming to move away from the bottom of the log.
An action-packed weekend will conclude at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban, where Deysel’s Cell C Sharks host the Force, and Pretoria, where the Vodacom Bulls have a tough encounter against the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld.
Reds vs Emirates Lions
The Emirates Lions team shows only one change in the forwards, with Robbie Coetzee coming in at hooker with Armand van der Merwe reverting to the bench.
Ross Cronje returns to the starting XV at scrumhalf and Faf de Klerk is on the bench, while Elton Jantjies returns to flyhalf.
Sampie Mastriet shifts to left wing, making way for Ruan Combrinck who starts at right wing.
Harold Vorster returns to the starting line-up at inside centre, while Andries Coetzee starts at fullback.
The teams are:
Reds: Lachlan Turner, Chris Kuridrani, Samu Kerevi, Anthony Faingaa, James O’Connor, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Jake Schatz, Curtis Browning, Adam Thomson, James Horwill, David McDuling, Sam Talakai, James Hanson, James Slipper (captain). Replacements: Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley, Greg Holmes, Marco Kotze, Michael Gunn, Nicholas Frisby, Ben Tapuai, Chris Feauai-Sautia.
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Sampie Mastriet, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley (captain), Warwick Tecklenburg, Derick Minnie, Franco Mostert, Robert Kruger, Ruan Dreyer, Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: Armand van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Julian Redelinghuys, Martin Muller, Jaco Kriel, Faf de Klerk, Marnitz Boshoff, Howard Mnisi.
Chiefs vs Toyota Cheetahs
Toyota Cheetahs will play with a brand-new front row this weekend in Maks van Dyk, Stephan Coetzee and BG Uys, with Torsten van Jaarsveld, Caylib Oosthuizen and Danie Mienie providing cover on the bench.
There are three more changes to the pack – Francois Uys, a late withdrawal last weekend, is back at lock and will captain the side again, in the place of Carl Wegner.
Due to the groin injury sustained by Oupa Mohoje – he has returned to South Africa and has been replaced by Tienie Burger – Jean Cook moves to flank and Boom Prinsloo starts at No 8 with Willie Britz on the bench.
At the back, Shaun Venter and Tian Meyer swap places at scrumhalf, Michael van der Spuy comes in for Francois Venter at inside centre, Cornal Hendricks is back on the wing and Clayton Blommetjies moves to fullback.
Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen and Willie le Roux, as well as Francois Venter are rested this week.
The teams are:
Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Bryce Heem, Seta Tamanivalu/Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, Tom Marshall, Aaron Cruden, Brad Weber, Michael Leitch, Sam Cane, Liam Messam (captain), Michael Fitzgerald, Matt Symons, Ben Tameifuna, Quentin MacDonald, Pauliasi Manu. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Michael Allardice, Johan Bardoul, Augustine Pulu, Andrew Horrell, Marty McKenzie.
Toyota Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Cornal Hendricks, Johann Sadie, Michael van der Spuy, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Shaun Venter, Boom Prinsloo, Jean Cook, Heinrich Brussow, Francois Uys (captain), Steven Sykes, Maks van Dyk, Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys. Replacements: Torsten van Jaarsveld, Caylib Oosthuizen, Danie Mienie, Carl Wegner, Willie Britz, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Rayno Benjamin.
Highlanders vs DHL Stormers
DHL Stormers will be captained by Juan de Jongh this week as Duane Vermeulen gets a break.
Schalk Burger comes into the starting team for the first time this season in what will be his 100th Vodacom Super Rugby match. Nizaam Carr moves to No 8.
Demetri Catrakilis and Nic Groom are back as halfback pairing, with Kurt Coleman and Louis Schreuder reverting to the bench.
On the bench, Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Eben Etzebeth and Michael Rhodes will join Schreuder and Coleman.
The teams are:
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-captain), James Lentjes, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Josh Hohneck, Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds. Replacements: Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Pingi Tala’apitanga, Mark Reddish, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.
DHL Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh (captain), Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Nizaam Carr, Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi, Manuel Carizza, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones.
Cell C Sharks vs Force
Cell C Sharks have named Jean Deysel, back from injury, as captain in place of the suspended Bismarck du Plessis. Kyle Cooper comes in at hooker.
Marcell Coetzee, Pat Lambie and Cobus Reinach will rest this week, meaning starts for Deysel and Conrad Hoffmann, while Frans Steyn moves from inside centre to flyhalf.
The new faces on the bench are Monde Hadebe, Thomas du Toit, Stefan Ungerer and Fred Zeilinga are the new faces.
The teams are:
Cell C Sharks: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, André Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Frans Steyn, Conrad Hoffmann, Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel (captain), Renaldo Bothma, Marco Wentzel, Mouritz Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Kyle Cooper, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Monde Hadebe, Thomas du Toit, Lourens Adriaanse, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Daniel du Preez, Stefan Ungerer, Fred Zeilinga, Waylon Murray.
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, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Angus Cottrell, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Dane Haylett-Petty.
Vodacom Bulls vs Crusaders
The Vodacom Bulls’ backline is unchanged for the fourth consecutive match.
Upfront, Victor Matfield returns at lock for Grant Hattingh, who moves down to the bench, while the props are shuffled around – this time Trevor Nyakane is back at tighthead with Morné Mellett at loosehead, while Dean Greyling and Marcel van der Merwe moves to the bench.
Lappies Labuschagne have been ruled out due to injury, with Arno Botha coming in at flank and Hanro Liebenberg on the bench.
The teams are:
Vodacom Bulls: Jesse Kriel, Francois Hougaard, JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Bjorn Basson, Handré Pollard, Rudy Paige, Pierre Spies (captain), Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield, Jacques du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Morné Mellett. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Dean Greyling, Marcel van der Merwe, Grant Hattingh, Hanro Liebenberg, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Jurgen Visser.
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Nemani Nadolo, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Richie McCaw, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Joe Moody. Replacements: Codie Taylot, Wyatt Crockett, Nepo Laulala, Jimmy Tupou, Matt Todd, Mitchell Drummond, Colin Slade, David Havili.
Other fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Friday March 27:08:35: Hurricanes v Rebels – Wellington
Saturday March 28:
10:40: Waratahs v Blues – Sydney
Bye: Brumbies
