The Fidelity ADT Lions find themselves at Midstream College on Friday for the Round 9 Jukskei Derby of the Carling Currie Cup (5.15pm kick-off). After a fairly successful campaign thus far under head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi, the Johannesburg-based side will tap into their Vodacom United Rugby Championship squad members with an eye on the upcoming international club tournament scheduled to start later in September.
Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen and his management are set to take charge of Friday’s clash, using it as an opportunity to assess squad depth as well as providing a chance for new signings to obtain much needed game time. Nkosi and his group will resume responsibility for the remainder of the campaign (their final league game is against the Novavit Griffons at home next Friday).
Friday’s Match 23 sees the infusion of Springboks Morne van den Berg, Ruan Venter and Quan Horn. JC Pretorius, who featured last weekend off the bench, plays alongside URC regular Francke Horn in the backrow. New recruits Franco Marais and Juan Schoeman, who have been hard at work during the pre-season, will find themselves contributing off the bench for their new team.
Van Rooyen said: “It’s exciting to incorporate a few of the guys who have not played Currie Cup this season to get a few minutes under their belts ahead of the 2024/25 international season, combined with guys who been doing well in the competition so far. It’s important for us to keep the momentum going and keep going forward as a collective group.
"We are looking forward to playing the Bulls. We know they are a good side with good plans, so we need to be sharp as we continue to march forward.”
Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Canan Moodie, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Bernard van der Linde; 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Corne Beets, 6 Nizaam Carr (capt); 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Merwe Olivier; 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Tielman Nieuwoudt, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Ghudian van Reenan, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Mihlali Mosi.
Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (capt), 11 Tapiwa Mafura; 10 Nico Steyn, 9 Morne van den Berg; 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius; 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Jarod Cairns, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Comments