The third round of the Premier Division gets underway on Friday afternoon when two teams desperate for a win, the Fidelity ADT Lions and NovaVit Griffons, square off in Johannesburg at 15:00 (SA Time).
Although both have lost their opening two rounds, the Highvelders showed enough against Airlink Pumas and DHL WP to be considered as slight favourites at home, but they will not underestimate the Northern Free Staters, who will be keen to show what they can do after earning promotion to the Premier Division last year.
The Fidelity ADT Lions have named a much-changed team to face the Griffons in Round three of the 2023 Currie Cup at Emirates Airline Park on Friday at 15:00 (SA Time).
Hooker Jaco Visagie, who celebrated his 50th Currie Cup game last week during the defeat to the Pumas will captain the side. Visagie will be joined in the frontrow by props Ruan Smith and Sti Sithole who replaces Rhynardt Runsburger. Raynard Roetz joins Darrien-Lane Landsberg as the new second-row combination.
In the backrow, last week’s flank Jarod Cairns moves to the No.8. He is joined by Ruhan Straeuli and Sibusiso Sangweni as the new loose trio.
Nico Steyn will partner with flyhalf Vaughn Isaacs as the halfback pairing, while Stean Pienaar shifts to outside centre alongside Tyler Bocks. Tiaan Swanepoel moves from the bench to the starting XV and will be this Friday’s fullback. Swanepoel completes the back three alongside Boldwin Isaacs at right wing and Ilugna Mukendi at left.
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15. Tiaan Swanepoel, 14. Boldwin Isaacs, 13. Steyn Pienaar, 12. Tyler Bocks, 11. Ilugna Mukendi, 10. Vaughan Isaacs, 9. Nico Steyn, 8. Jarod Cairns, 7. Ruhan Straeuli, 6. Sibusiso Sangweni, 5. Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4. Raynard Roetz, 3. Ruan Smith, 2. Jaco Visagie (c), 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. Michael Van Vuuren, 17. Morgan Naude, 18. Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19. PJ Steenkamp, 20. Pieter Janse Van Vuren, 21. Renzo Du Plessis, 22. Kelly Mpeku, 23. Jurich Claasens.
NovaVit Griffons: 15. Domenic Smit, 14. Randall Fielies, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12. Marquit September, 11. Jamba Ulengo, 10. Duan Pretorius, 9. Jaywinn Juries, 8. Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7. Jean Pretorius, 6. Mitchell Carstens, 5. Michael Benadie, 4. Jaco Willemse, 3. Doctor Booysen, 2. Dandre Delport, 1. Stephan de Jager. Replacements: 16. Hendrik van Schoor, 17. Xolani Jacobs, 18. Neo Mohapi, 19. Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20. Curtly Thomas, 21. Richman Gora, 22. Robbie Petzer, 23. Keanu Vers, 24. Buhle Nojekwa, 25. Thomas Ongera, 26. Duren Hoffman.
