The Sigma Lions face a tough task when they host the current pace-setters and Carling Currie Cup Premier Division defending champions, the Vodacom Bulls, in Pretoria today @ 13h30.
Both sides are on the back of high-scoring mid-week fixtures which saw the Vodacom Bulls emerge emphatic 56-33 winners over Tafel Lager Griquas on Wednesday, while their rivals from across the Jukskei River played to a scintillating 44-44 tie with the Toyota Cheetahs.
The Vodacom Bulls will be looking to emulate their seventh-round 40-21 victory over the Sigma Lions, however, with the Bulls travelling to Johannesburg with a "B" team expect a Lions team that will come out all guns blazing. It will not be a walk in the park for the Bulls today.
In a short turnaround from Wednesday, Sigma Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made some rotational changes.
In the starting line-up, PJ Steenkamp will partner with Ruben Schoeman for the first time this Carling Currie Cup season, while both Travis Gordon and Mark Snyman make their starting debuts.
On the bench, Jannie du Plessis, MJ Pelser, Dan Kriel and Manuel Rass are all welcomed to the fray. A Currie Cup debut awaits youngster Mandisi “Oupa” Mthiyane when he takes to the field from the bench.
Arno Botha will captain a much-changed Vodacom Bulls side.
With an expectation of a gruelling contest in Johannesburg, Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has opted to use the rotation policy to full effect with a total of nine changes made to the starting XV for Saturday’s clash, with the bulk of the starters from the mid-week game providing cover from the bench this weekend.
Among the changes is the half-back pairing of Keagan Johannes, at scrumhalf, and flyhalf Chris Smith who will receive starting berths. There will also be a changed front row as props Simphiwe Matanzima and Jacques van Rooyen will buckle down alongside hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels for the clash.
Looking ahead to the game, White said: “We have yet another short turnaround from our previous match. It is therefore imperative that we utilise our squad effectively and implement our rotational policy wisely.
“We are at a crucial stage of the competition where teams are jostling for spots in the playoffs, and the Sigma Lions are very much in the race for a top four finish. Therefore, we expect them to come out guns blazing this weekend, and we will need to be on high alert and ready to counter whatever they throw at us.”
Prediction: Vodacom Bulls by 10
Sigma Lions: 15. EW Viljoen, 14. Stean Pienaar, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Burger Odendaal (capt.), 11. Rabz Maxwane, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Andre Warner, 8. Travis Gordon, 7. Sibusiso Sangweni, 6. Mark Snyman, 5. Ruben Schoeman, 4. PJ Steenkamp, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. PJ Botha, 17. Nathan McBeth, 18. Jannie du Plessis, 19. Oupa Mthiyane, 20. MJ Pelser, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. Dan Kriel, 23. Manuel Rass
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Krie, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Lionel Mapoe), 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Chris Smith, 9. Keagan Johannes, 8. WJ Steenkamp, 7. Muller Uys, 6. Arno Botha (c), 5. Janko Swanepoel, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Jacques van Rooyen, 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1. Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Elrigh Louw, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Johan Goosen, 23. Stedman Gans, 24. Joe van Zyl, 25. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 26. Cornal Hendricks, 27. Stravino Jacobs.