In Saturday’s first Carling Currie Cup Premier Division match at Ellis Park, the Fidelity ADT Lions will be brimming with confidence as they take on DHL WP at 15:00 (SA Time).
The Joburgers, fresh from their 46-05 demolition job against defending champions Hollywoodbets Sharks in Round 1, will be looking to continue their winning ways against Labeeb Levy’s men at Ellis Park, while Province fell short against the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town.
The Joburgers have won the last two meetings between these sides, both home and away, while DHL WP’s last victory over their Joburg rivals came in March 2023.
Fidelity ADT Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has made three changes. Renzo du Plessis, starts in the number six jersey in place of the injured Izan Esterhuizen. Other changes see talented hooker Marno Grobbelaar replace Morne Brandon on the bench with Siba Qoma filling the back row spot on the bench. Grobbelaar will be in line for his competition debut if called upon.
There are four new faces in the DHL Western Province starting line-up. There are two changes to the backline and two in the forward pack, with one positional switch. The changes in the backline come on both wings, with Sako Makata and Jared Africa both backed to start, while Junior Springbok and Sevens star Gino Cupido come onto the replacements bench. Up front, former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen starts at tighthead prop and in the loose trio Louw Nel moves to the back of the scrum, while Gideon van Wyk starts at blindside flank.
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 1. Morgan Naude, 2. Jaco Visagie (c), 3. RF Schoeman, 4. Raynard Roets, 5. Darrien Landsberg, 6. Renzo du Plessis, 7. Jarod Cairns, 8. WJ Steenkamp, 9. Nico Steyn, 10. Lubabalo Dobela, 11. Rabz Maxwane, 12. Rynhardt Jonker, 13. Manuel Rass, 14. Angelo Davids, 15. Gianni Lombard. Replacements: 16. Marno Grobbelaar (on debut), 17. SJ Kotze, 18. Heiko Pohlmann, 19. Dylan Sjoblom, 20. Siba Qoma, 21. Layton Horn, 22. Kade Wolhuter, 23. Kelly Mpeku.
DHL Western Province: 15 Shilton van Wyk, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Luke Burger, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Gideon van Wyk, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Erhard Lambrecht, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Gino Cupido, 23 Tristan Leyds.