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The race for the top spot in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA is going down to the wire as the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls meet on Saturday. A single bonus point would likely be enough for the Bulls to ensure their place in the Pro14 Rainbow Cup final to be hosted in Treviso, Italy on Saturday 19 June 2021.
The Bulls hold a four-point advantage ahead of their trip to Durban but the Sharks could yet sneak ahead and earn a place alongside Benetton in the Rainbow Cup showpiece.
The Sharks must aim for a bonus-point win while leaving the Bulls empty-handed if they are to book their place without needing to rely on tie-breakers.
After the enforced resting of Springbok players, last weekend in the Cell C Sharks' match-winning performance against the Emirates Lions, head coach Sean Everitt has been able to bring back his leaders in captain Lukhanyo Am and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, with Curwin Bosch returning at flyhalf and Aphelele Fassi back in the number 15 jersey after missing last weekend’s game.
There is plenty of history between the two sides and while the recent past didn’t quite deliver the result the team wanted, Everitt admitted that his side goes into this match confident in their ability.
“In the last outing at Loftus, we were in the game at half-time and leading, I thought we dominated for 50 minutes but unfortunately unravelled in the last 20 or so and conceded four soft tries, so we have to look at the game as a whole and put it into perspective,” he said.
After losing twice in this competition, the Cell C Sharks hit back last weekend to open up the title race and Everitt expects nothing different when his team host the Pretoria side.
“We’ve bounced back before and we haven’t lost to the Bulls at home, so we’re very keen to turn the tables on them at home.”
Taking a good look at his opponents, he added: “The Vodacom Bulls have improved as well, they’ve found ways to win, they’re a good team, but the result against the Xerox Lions gave us a lot of confidence for this game.”
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White continues to test combinations and positions, with Ruan Nortje shifting to blindside flank opening up space for lock Janko Swanepoel to start in the engine room against the Cell C Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday, 12 June 2021.
Nortje’s move to the side of the scrum is a result of the injury to Elrigh Louw, while Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee takes over the captaincy and no.8 jumper from the injured Duane Vermeulen, with Marco van Staden covering the openside flank against their Durban based opposition.
Springbok Nizaam Carr and Junior Springbok Muller Uys have received call ups to take the places of Swanepoel and Van Staden on the bench respectively.
“We have approached this match as if it were a semi-final. Nothing less than a win is good enough. The boys need no further motivation and despite a few injuries, come Saturday we will be focused and determined to execute our plan,” said White.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Marcell Coetzee (C), 7. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Janko Swanepoel, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Muller Uys, 21. Keagan Johannes, 23. Gio Aplon, 24. Robert Hunt, 25. Jan Uys, 26. Dawid Kellerman, 27. Richard Kriel.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Anthony Volmink, 13. Lukhanyo Am (C), 12. Marius Louw, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi, 7. Thembelani Bholi, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. JJ van der Mescht, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Khwezi Mona. Replacements: