The Vodacom Bulls will be hoping to build on last week’s win over the Cell C Sharks when they travel down the N1 to Johannesburg to face the Sigma Lions in a Jukskei derby at Emirates Airline Park @ 20h00.
On current form, the Vodacom Bulls should have the measure of their Gauteng neighbours in the late evening kick-off in Johannesburg. The defending champions are placed nicely in the second spot on the log with only one loss in five games, while the Sigma Lions are still hunting their first win of 2022.
Last year, the men in the light-blue jerseys won their two fixtures between the sides 48-21 and 40-21 respectively.
Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka will lead an otherwise youthful-looking Vodacom Bulls.
“We are very fortunate to have a number of players with great leadership qualities in the Vodacom Bulls squad, and Lizo has been one of those senior players who have always provided leadership in both the Carling Currie Cup and the Vodacom URC. We look forward to him, alongside Stedman Gans as vice-captain, leading this exciting team on Wednesday,” said Vodacom Bulls head coach, Gert Smal.
“We are pleased that we are able to give a few of our more youthful players an opportunity this week, be it in the starting lineup or on the bench.
“We have no doubt that we have a tough challenge ahead of us against a Sigma Lions team that will be motivated and will be tough opponents on Wednesday night. We will need to be at our best and will need to execute the plans we have been working hard on in the build-up to the match well.”
Sigma Lions speedster Boldwin Hansen will make a welcome return to Carling Currie Cup action. Hansen last featured against the Cell C Sharks nearly a month ago in a match that saw him register a five-pointer for his side.
It’s the first start of the season for exciting loose-forward Lindo Ncusane who’ll combine with Mark Snyman and the in-form Wits and former Lions U19 captain Cal Smid in the backrow.
The halfback pairing of Ginter Smuts and James Tedder, who did duty last week against the Griquas, will have the responsibility of steering the Lion’s attack against a determined Bulls outfit.
Head Coach Mziwakhe Nkosi believes this year’s competition theme has been about providing young players the opportunity to launch their careers.
“History has shown time and time again that the Currie Cup has earned many players call-ups to international club competitions and national honours,” explains Nkosi.
“We’ve consistently backed our youngsters within our system, and this is something we’ve been bold about from the start of our campaign,” he adds.
“We’ll be up for it tomorrow against a very good Bulls side. There are a few guys in the match 23 who’ll be eager to impress and make the most of the opportunity,’ he concludes.
Teams:
Lions: 15. EW Viljoen, 14. Boldwin Hansen, 13. James Molentze, 12. Luke Rossouw, 11. Zeilinga Strydom, 10. James Tedder, 9. Ginter Smuts, 8. Cal Smid, 7. Lindo Ncusane, 6. Mark Snyman, 5. Simon Dionisio, 4. Lunga Ncube, 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye (c), 2. Morne Brandon, 1. Kayden Kiewit. Replacements: 16. Ebot Buma, 17. Jacque-Lois du Toit, 18. Chergin Fillies/Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19. Connor Van Buuren, 20. Sasko Ndlovu, 21. Jurich Claasens, 22. Tyler Bocks, 23. Fred Zeilinga/ Vaughen Isaacs.
Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Sibongile Novuka, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Juan Mostert, 9. Bernard van der Linde, 8. Muller Uys, 7. Werner Gouws, 6. WJ Steenkamp, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 4. Raynard Roets, 3. Robert Hunt, 2. Schalk Erasmus, 1. Lizo Gqoboka (c). Replacements: 16. Joe van Zyl, 17. Cebo Dlamini, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Ruan Delport 20. Jaco Labuschagne, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Morne Steyn, 23. James Verity-Amm