top of page

Derby day in Gauteng as Lions eye Bulls scalp

Writer's picture: Lions RugbyLions Rugby

The stage has been set for tomorrow’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 10 Highveld clash between the Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday. With both teams on a high from recent victories at the conclusion of last weekend’s European competition fixtures, Saturday’s Jukskei Derby promises to be a spectacle for both players and fans.

The Lions have made two changes to the team that ran out against Dragons last week which sees the return of Richard Kriel on the right wing in place of Tapiwa Mafura and Ruan Delport in for the injured Darrien Landsberg. Changes on the bench sees WJ Steenkamp included to face his former employers in the most anticipated local derby on the URC roster.

Former Springbok centre and Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie says while appreciating the magnitude Saturday’s crunch match, he has encouraged his side to not make it bigger than what it already is.

“We still want to focus on what we want to do, and it is important that we don’t make it bigger than it is. It is already a massive occasion, the Bulls against the Lions is always a big occasion. So we don’t want to blow it up too much.”

The physicality of both sides remains a talking point whenever these two giants meet and Fourie is under no illusions as to what the Johannesburg franchise will be up against come 2.45pm Saturday afternoon.

“We know what to expect from them and what they will bring. They bring physicality with their pack of forwards and when they get go forward and get in behind you it becomes a tough day. So we know what we have to do to counter that,” he concluded.


Emirates Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Sam Francis, 9 Morne van den Berg; 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius; 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Manuel Rass.


Vodacom Bulls Starting XV: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen; 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee; 5 Ruan Nortje (capt), 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Canan Moodie.


SATURDAY

Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls

Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.45pm IRE & UK/1.45pm ITA/2.45pm SA

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 25th league game)

AR 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) AR 2: JD Jadezweni (SARU)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

תגובות


Online Sports News

  • Facebook

Powered by Eclipse Productions

bottom of page