The Emirates Lions are still in the running for a quarter-final spot when they host Glasgow Warriors on Saturday at 15:00 (SA Time), but with the team trailing the eighth-placed Benetton by four points and tied on log points with the ninth-placed Connacht – but far behind on points’ difference – they face a strong challenge to make the cut.
The Emirates Lions face a massive task against the log-leading Glasgow Warriors at Emirates Airline Park where the home team will be fighting to remain in the running for a quarter-final spot, while the Scots will do everything to remain at the top of the standings – where they currently hold a narrow one-point lead over Leinster.
With the Gauteng side coming off a morale-boosting bonus point 34-13 victory against Cardiff and having the luxury of playing at home, they will enter the match with the attitude that they have nothing to lose. Adding to this, the teams are closely matched in terms of attacking statistics, but the Emirates Lions will look to build on the solid effort they delivered on attack and defence last week to create what would be one of the biggest upsets of the weekend if they come away with a victory.
The Emirates Lions assistant coach and scrum guru Julian Redelinghuys was under no illusions this week about the quality of their opponents despite going down the Vodacom Bulls in their recent fixture. In the same breath, Redelinghuys warned against relying on altitude as a weapon to pip the Franco Smith coached side.
“They’re a well-coached team and are top of the log; best in the tackling stats, and best in defensive stats,” said the former Springbok prop.
“The questions we have are, are they going to stick to their DNA, or try and do what Munster and Cardiff did, which is kick the ball and not want to play too much.”
“From our side, if you rely on the altitude to win a game for you, you’re going to make a mistake. Glasgow didn’t go lay down in the last 20 minutes against the Bulls, they actually made a step up,” he concluded.
In other team news, prop Morgan Naude returns to the starting line-up with Ruan Dreyer providing cover as an impact player. Sanele Nohamba and Jordan Hendrikse occupy the two backline spots on the bench.
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith has named a starting XV showing five changes from last weekend’s titanic encounter with the Vodacom Bulls.
The Warriors know that a win will keep their hopes of a top-two finish in their own hands going into the final round of competition, after picking up two bonus-points in defeat at Loftus Versfeld last time out.
Murphy Walker – fresh from making his first appearance for the club in 512 days last weekend – joins childhood friend and fellow former Dundee Eagle, Angus Fraser, in a Glasgow Warriors matchday 23 for the first time, as Oli Kebble completes the starting front-row.
An unchanged second row sees Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings continue together in the engine room, the pair having each turned in industrious shifts in Pretoria last weekend.
Euan Ferrie and Henco Venter are both promoted to the starting XV after coming off the bench against the Bulls last time out, with Rory Darge completing the back-row as he packs down on the openside flank.
George Horne and Tom Jordan continue their combination in the half-backs, both me having contributed from the tee in addition to around the field last weekend.
The midfield combination is similarly unchanged, meaning Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall dove-tail for the fifth successive fixture in the centres.
Kyle Rowe is the only alteration to the starting back-line as the Scotland winger comes into the lineup in place of Sebastian Cancelliere, joining captain Kyle Steyn and full-back Josh McKay in the back-three.
An all-international front-row lies in wait for their opportunity when called upon tomorrow afternoon, as the top try-scorer in the BKT United Rugby Championship, Johnny Matthews, joins Jamie Bhatti and Zander Fagerson amongst the replacements.
Max Williamson continues in the number 19 jersey, whilst Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey – for the first time in his Glasgow Warriors career – rotate to the bench after starting last time out.
The back-line is once again covered by Jamie Dobie and Duncan Weir, the latter having become only the third player in Glasgow Warriors history to surpass 900 points when slotting the crucial last-minute penalty in Pretoria last Saturday.
Speaking following selection, Head Coach Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “Training this week has been competitive and focused, with everyone looking forward to tomorrow’s challenge.
“The Lions are a dangerous team across the field, who have the ability to hurt any team in transition and who will look to attack from anywhere.
“They will provide us with a stern test, and we know that we will have to be at our best tomorrow afternoon.”
Teams:
Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Morgan Naudé. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Ruan Venter, 21 Hanru Sirgel, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Jordan Hendrikse.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Angus Fraser, 1 Oli Kebble. Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Jack Dempsey, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir.