Saturday's first Carling Currie Cup match sees the Fidelity ADT Lions host the Vodacom Bulls at Ellis Park in Johannesburg at 15:00 (SA Time).
The Lions, currently lying fourth, are just one point ahead of the Pumas in the hunt for a coveted semi-final place.
A bonus-point win against the Bulls, who have lost three on the bounce after a strong start, would put significant pressure on the Pumas and strengthen the Lions’ claim for a final playoff spot.
However, a loss could see the Lions drop out of the top four if the Pumas secure a win. The Bulls, who are six points behind fourth place in the race for the playoffs, will be eager to end their three-match losing streak in this crunch Gauteng derby.
Heading into this game, the Bulls have a healthy 4-1 advantage in this meeting between the two Gauteng neighbours; however, the Lions have won their last clash 57-33 a year ago. According to their respective form guides, the Lions have won three from their last five across the competition and the Bulls just two.
With one eye firmly focused on play-off ambitions in the Currie Cup as well as the international season starting in just under a month, Fidelity ADT Lions' Currie Cup mentor Nkosi in tandem with URC head coach Ivan van Rooyen, have, in their match 23, selected a strong group which include Springboks Quan Horn and Ruan Venter as well as new recruits Chris Smith and winger Eduan Keyter. Junior Springboks superstar Haashim Pead is also in line for his senior debut.
Four new inclusions, two positional switches, and one player making way. This is the sum total of Vodacom Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s selection. Up front, Simphiwe Matanzima replaces Ruan Swart at loosehead prop, while Bryan le Roux comes in for Jean Erasmus at tighthead.
In the backline, there’s a reshuffle too: Jaco van der Walt slots in at flyhalf, with Boeta Chamberlain moving from 10 to fullback. Chris Barend Smit earns a start at inside centre, with Cornel Smit shifting one channel out to 13. Stravino Jacobs, meanwhile, drops out of the starting line-up on account of injury.
Teams
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smit, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha (captain), 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Tian Wessels, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Eduan Keyter.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Bryan le Roux, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16. Shaun Schurmann, 17. Ruan Swart, 18. Cohen Kievit, 19. Abri van der Westhuizen, 20 Marco Ferreira, 21 Brooklyn Newman, 22 PA van Niekerk, 23 Katlego Letebele.
