Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The Carling Currie Cup moves past the halfway mark this weekend and the fourth round will be sure to deliver loads of action as the teams prepare for a thrilling home stretch with their eyes firmly on semi-final spots.
The Vodacom Bulls, whose match against Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday was cancelled due to players and management from the Bulls testing positive for COVID-19, hold a narrow lead at the top of the log, while only three points separate the second-placed Cell C Sharks and the Xerox Lions in fourth place.
The Xerox Lions will have their sights set on ending a three-year Carling Currie Cup losing run against the Cell C Sharks when they cross paths in Johannesburg on Saturday @19h00.
Both teams have a lot to play for as the Durbanites’ will be determined to remain in second place on the table to stay within range of possibly leapfrogging log leaders, the Vodacom Bulls, in the next few weeks, while the men from Johannesburg could hop into second place if they register a win.
Fueling the Xerox Lions’ motivation, they will want to avenge their heartbreaking three-point defeat against the KwaZulu-Natalians earlier this season and change their Carling Currie Cup fortunes against the visitors.
Xerox Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen named an unchanged starting team for the spectacle, however, Sti Sithole (prop) and Vincent Tshituka (flanker) both had injury scares this week and will have to pass late fitness tests to prove their readiness to take the field.
Should they be ruled out, Dylan Smith and Wilhelm van der Sluys will move into the starting line-up respectively.
Cell C Sharks coach Sean Everitt made four changes to his tight five with Ox Nche – who is the only player to retain his place – packing down next to Kerron van Vuuren (hooker), with Michael Kumbirai anchoring the scrum on the tighthead side.
Behind them, JJ van der Mescht and Aston Fortuin form a new second-row partnership, with Fortuin, making his Carling Currie Cup debut for the Cell C Sharks.
“The Lions match this weekend is going to be tough – we expect them to be hungry and I think it’s going to be a really good game,” said Kumbirai.
“The Lions have a really good scrum, their set-piece has been a strength of theirs and that’s going to be a great battle on Saturday.”
Teams:
Xerox Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka/Wilhelm van der Sluys, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole/Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Burger Odendaal, 23 Jamba Ulengo.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 James Venter, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Jeremy Ward.