After a thrilling opening weekend of action in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA, the competition returns for another double-header of fixtures on Saturday. The first match is between the Cell C Sharks host the Emirates Lions in Durban @16h00.
After being made to battle hard for their win in Cape Town, the Cell C Sharks will hope to make a better start against the Emirates Lions outfit, who have found life difficult in Durban over the years, having beaten the coastal side just twice in the city – both in Vodacom Super Rugby – in April 2016 and July 2017.
In fact, Lukhanyo Am’s team – unchanged from last weekend – have won their last seven games at Jonsson Kings Park in all competitions, dating back to defeat against the Hurricanes in Vodacom Super Rugby in June 2019, so they are bound to be a hard nut to crack on home turf.
And the Cell C Sharks are on form having won their last two matches – their warm-up against Vodacom Bulls in March, and last weekend against DHL Stormers.
Meanwhile, the Emirates Lions have slipped to back-to-back defeats away from home – against the DHL Stormers in the 2021 Kick-off Pools, and at the Vodacom Bulls, last weekend in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA. Ivan van Rooyen (coach) was forced into making a number of changes for this match.
Teams:
Emirates Lions: 15. EW Viljoen, 14. Rabz Maxwane, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Dan Kriel, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. André Warner; 8. Francke Horn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. MJ Pelser, 5. Reinhard Nothnagel, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. PJ Botha, 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. Jaco Visagie, 17. Nathan McBeth, 18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19. Len Massyn, 20. Emmanuel Tshituka, 21. Morné van den Berg, 22. Jordan Hendrikse, 23. Burger Odendaal.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am (C), 12. Jeremy Ward, 11. Yaw Penxe, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Henco Venter, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Fez Mbatha, 1. Ox Nche. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Phepsi Buthelezi, 21. Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Werner Kok.