Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
Eastern Province will host the Lions in the Nelson Mandala Bay Stadium today @ 16h45 in their second match of the Preparation Series. Eastern Province is desperate to convince SARU that they deserve a place in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Eastern Province lost 87-10 to a youthful Vodacom Bulls last weekend while the Lions had to work until the last seconds of their game to beat the Pumas 32-28.
Eastern Province will have to tame the Lions upfront and secure some line-out ball before they can dream of letting their backline "loose".
The frontrow of Herbst, Venter and McBeth will dominate from the word go in the scrums with their understudies Brandon, Mthenjane and Ntlabakanye able to kill off any hopes of a comeback late in the game.
Unfortunately for the Elephants, if we compare the teams you have brilliant talented Lions waiting to show their abilities which will make it a long day for the homeboys.
Experienced playmaker Courtney Winnaar will lead Eastern Province. He replaces Innie Radebe who was injured against the Bulls last weekend.
Winnaar will start in the No 15 jersey in the place of Riaan Arends, who wore it against the Vodacom Bulls last time around.
Winnaar, who played for the Cell C Sharks and Southern Kings before, was not available for the clash against the Bulls. He is one in a rash of changes made by coach Peter de Villiers.
Only six players in the starting line-up from last weekend will run out again today.
Qeutyne Oerson (wing) and Sherwin Slater (centre) are the only backs who kept their match day jerseys, although Athi Mayinje and Christopher Hollis swop the number 11 and 13 jerseys around.
The well-travelled Karlo Aspeling takes over from Radebe, with the former Valke, SWD and Border pivot making a fourth appearance in the EP shirt. Josh Allderman will be his halfback partner, having played off the bench in Pretoria.
Amongst the tight five that started at Loftus Versfeld, only lock Athenkosi Khetani has been retained, while former Madibaz No 8, Bevin Prinsloo, was called onto the bench.
De Villiers again opted for a six/two split on the bench.
Lions coaches Mzwakhe Nkosi and Wessel Roux named a youthful and promising side to travel to the Eastern Cape.
The trip to the East Coast is an opportunity for Nkosi and Roux to give another host of young players the chance to showcase their talents.
The side is brimming with youngsters who caught the eye during the national Under-21 tournament. The youngsters will test the depth of the union's ranks.
The backline remains pretty much the same as the one that ran out against New Nation Pumas late last month, with Ngia Selengbe (wing, pictured above) and Dillon Smit (scrumhalf) the new starters.
Selengbe takes over from Divan Rossouw who moves to fullback in place of EW Viljoen, while Smit starts in place of Morne van den Berg, who plays off the bench.
The forwards have a much more youthful look to rit.
Ruhan Straeuli, Sibusiso Sangweni and Mark Snyman are the new loose trio and all on debut, while Ruben Schoeman joins Reinhard Nothnagel in the engine room.
Dameon Venter moves from the reserves to start at hooker in place of PJ Botha. The bench comprises almost completely of youngsters, with all but Van den Berg new in the senior ranks.
Eastern Province: 15 Courtney Winnaar (captain), 14 Qeutyne Oerson, 13 Athi Mayinje, 12 Sherwin Slater, 11 Christopher Hollis, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Josh Allderman, 8 Zingisa April, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Arnold Kleyn, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Emile Klaassen, 2 Sithembiso Befile, 1 Siya Nzuzo. Replacements: 16 Robin Stevens, 17 Lyle Lombard, 18 Lupumlo Mgcuca, 19 Mncedisi Dlwengu, 20 Bevin Prinsloo, 21 Diego Williams, 22 Wian van der Sandt, 23 Riaan Arends.
Lions: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 James Mollentze, 11 Ngia Selengbe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Ruhan Straeuli, 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Dameon Venter, 1 Nathan McBeth. Replacements (from): 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Banele Mthenjane, 18 Asenathi Nthlabakanye, 19 Mandisi Mtiyane, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Luke Rossouw, 24 Sibusiso Shongwe, 25 Jarod Cairns.