Can The Emirates Lions Win For First Time Since 2017 In Durban?

 

The Cell C Sharks will look to build on their emphatic victory against the Dragons last week when they host the Emirates Lions today at Hollywoodbets Kings Park @ 16h05, and they will be expecting a big battle after the Joburgers’ impressive resurgence in the last few weeks in which they registered four consecutive victories.

The Durban side have only lost of their home matches this year, but they will be wary of the fact that the Emirates Lions will have the extra motivation of possibly jumping into the top 10 on the log and reducing the gap between themselves and the Durbanites on the table if they register a victory, and Cardiff defeats the 10th placed Scarlets.

Fueling the visitors’ motivation, a victory would see them become the first South African opponent to defeat the Cell C Sharks at home this season (the DHL Stormers drew in Durban in January), while a win would also mark their first win at the KwaZulu-Natal venue dating back to 2017.

Successful teams are those that enjoy continuity and consistency in team selection and Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has once more had the good fortune to retain pretty much the same side that defeated the Dragons 51-3 in Durban last weekend with a couple of rotational changes thrown in to keep everyone fresh and hungry.

Reniel Hugo returns to the starting line-up with Le Roux Roets shifting to the bench while Springbok captain Siya Kolisi also gets a start for James Venter who led the Currie Cup side to victory over Griquas on Wednesday evening. The final change to the pack sees Henco Venter coming in for Jeandre Labushagne who will feature off the bench later in the game.

With eight wins and 41 points from their 14 matches to date, the Cell C Sharks are firmly entrenched in the top 8 on the log, 11 ahead of the Lions who currently occupy the 12th spot.

For the Cell C Sharks, the last few rounds – and this game in particular – are about continuity and performance, and the results that come from that.

“Last week’s win over the Dragons was a really good platform for us to build on and now it’s about us building momentum,” explained Everitt.

The South African sides all have a game in hand over the top five sides on the log, so a win on Saturday for the Cell C Sharks will give their campaign a major boost.

“The log is really important at the moment and a win this week will be big for us because the other two local franchises are also playing each other and we’re fighting in the SA Shield competition,”.

The Emirates Lions named a match-23 which features experienced scrummager Jannie du Plessis, who’ll face his former franchise for the return leg of the tournament.

Emirates Lions forwards and lineouts coach, Albert van den Berg, who himself appeared over a hundred times for the Sharks across all competitions, earlier this week outlined what his team can expect ahead of the URC derby.

“I think it will be a forward dominated battle, particularly when it comes to scrums and mauls,” predicts the lineout guru.

“Their kicking game is also quite a powerful weapon, so that’s an element we’ve prepared for in our sessions this week. If we can counter those aspects successfully, we feel we’re in with a shout come Saturday,” concluded Van den Berg.

Elsewhere, talented flank forward Jarod Cairns, who’s shown consistent performances in this year’s Carling Currie Cup for the Sigma Lions, could get his opportunity off the bench.

Cell C Sharks: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Thomas du Toit (c), 4. Gerbrandt Grobler, 5. Reniel Hugo, 6. Siya Kolisi (v/c), 7. Henco Venter, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Marius Louw 13. Ben Tapuai, 14. Werner Kok, 15. Anthony Volmink. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Jeandre Labushagne, 21. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22. Grant Williams, 23. Boeta Chamberlain.

Emirates Lions: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Rabz Maxwane, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Manuel Rass, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Morne van den Berg, 8. Emmanuel Tshituka, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Francke Horn, 5. Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. PJ Botha, 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. Morne Brandon, 17. JP Smith, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Sibusiso Sangweni, 20. Jarod Cairns, 21. Andre Warner, 22. Henco van Wyk, 23. Tiaan Swanepoel.