The most significant SA fixture of the round will play out at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday at 18:30 (SA Time), when the in-form Fidelity Securedrive Lions, who have walked away with victories in their last six matches in the United Rugby Championship, take on Leinster in a vital shootout for a home quarter-final spot.
The two sides are locked on 53 log points, and a victory for Ivan van Rooyen’s men could see them secure a place in the top four heading into the final round, while a Leinster win would push the visitors into a far more anxious final week.
This match also pits the Vodacom URC’s most prolific attacking team in the competition, the Fidelity Securedrive Lions, against one of the best defensive sides, and an Irish opponent who has proven to be dangerous throughout the tournament after qualifying for the Investec Champions Cup final.
Making the clash even more exciting, both sides have won 10 of their matches to date, but for the Johannesburgers, this is the moment to deliver on the form that has carried them up the standings in recent rounds.
A statement performance in Dublin would not only put them in a good position for a home quarter-final, but it would also send a strong signal to the other teams that the Johannesburgers could be real playoff contenders.
James Ryan captains Leinster Rugby side with Brian Deeny his partner in the second row, while Thomas Clarkson and Ed Byrne will pack down either side of John McKee in the front row. Max Deegan returns at blindside flanker, with Will Connors on the opposite side and James Culhane at number eight.
Sam Prendergast starts at out-half with Luke McGrath his partner at scrum-half, while Jamie Osborne is paired with Rieko Ioane in the centre.
Joshua Kenny and Jimmy O’Brien have been named on the wings with Ciarán Frawley at full-back. Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter and Rabah Slimani offer a wealth of experience as the front row replacements, with Diarmuid Mangan and Scott Penny completing the forward reinforcements.
Fintan Gunne is the reserve scrum-half, with Hugh Cooney and Hugo Keenan rounding out the matchday 23.
Lions mentor Ivan van Rooyen opted for a settled match 23, showing faith in the players who have done the job for him in the last three months, which has also unleashed new stars in the process.
Hard-man Etienne Oosthuizen returns to the second row after missing out against Connacht, meaning Springbok Ruan Venter returns to the familiar number 7 jersey. The tournament’s leading point scorer Chris Smith, will be tasked to boss matters at the Aviva alongside the energetic Morne van den Berg. Centre turned wing Erich Cronje finds himself swapping positions with fellow flyer Angelo Davids- the former starting on the right wing on Saturday.
Teams
Leinster Rugby: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 James Culhane, 7 Will Connors, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan (c), 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 John McKee,1 Ed Byrne. Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Scott Penny, 2 Fintan Gunne, 22 Hugh Cooney, 23 Hugo Keenan
Fidelity SecureDriveLions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Erich Cronje, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horne, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Kelly Mpeku.
