Preparation Series - teams and predictions
WEEK TWO: The coaches of South Africa’s four Europe-bound franchises continue to live up to the name of the series – PREPARATION!
The Cheetahs are the only of the frontline franchises to field close to their best selection – while the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers are giving fringe players another run this week.
The set of midweek matches will give us another glimpse of what the future holds.
It starts on Tuesday when Griquas host the Stormers in Kimberley, followed by the Pumas versus the Bulls in Nelspruit.
The following day the Eastern Province Elephants will look to bounce back from their humiliating encounter 10 days ago when they host the Lions and on the same day, the match of the week features the Cheetahs at home to the Sharks.
The main focus of the four matches is the Elephants and the Cheetahs.
After their humbling 10-87 loss to the Bulls, EP coach Peter de Villiers wielded a heavy axe.
Many pundits still doubt they would be able to upset the Lions.
However, Lions caretaker coach Mziwakhe Nkosi cautioned his charges of underestimating their hosts.
“Although Eastern Province came unstuck against a very good Bulls team, we are also fielding a young team,” Nkosi cautioned.
He made it clear they are indeed in ‘preparation for Europe’ mode.
“We are having a look at some of the players in our system and will try one or two things,” the Lions mentor said.
“We will look at staying with our structures and systems and not take too many risks.”
(Continue below video …)
Bulls director of Rugby Jake White is fielding a very similar selection to that which demolished the Elephants.
However, he expects the Pumas to put up far sterner resistance.
“The boys did well last week and the coaching management were impressed in how they kept to the plan, even when the game opened up,” White said.
“It could have become a free-for-all once we got legroom on the scoreboard, but we want to simulate in-competition scenarios to help us better prepare for upcoming competitions and I must commend Nizaam [Carr] and his leadership group for keeping the players focused on the objectives and outcomes we wanted to achieve.”
White said their approach this week will be no different.
“The last time we travelled to Nelspruit – with a rather young and inexperienced team – we lost badly to a powerful and well-oiled Pumas bunch,” he said of their Currie trip to the Mbombela stadium back in January.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how this group has developed since then.
“I would like to see if they learnt from that lesson.
“We’re excited to get to Nelspruit and play our brand of rugby.”
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie said the result is important for his team – who will have regular captain Ruan Pienaar back in the starting XV.
“He [Pienaar] controls the game well,” he said of the veteran Springbok utility back.
“Having Ruan back is good for the team. His leadership is outstanding and his game management will be important for us.”
Fourie said the Sharks played very different against Griquas 10 days ago, from what they did during their Currie Cup campaign.
“They kicked a lot less and played a lot more ‘ball in hand’ rugby,” Fourie said, adding the Cheetahs may be tempted to also take a more expansive approach.
“When they [the Sharks] don’t have Curwin Bosch at flyhalf, they play a more attacking game.
“The conditions also favour a more expansive game.
“With players like [Aphelele] Fassi and [Manie] Libbok our defence will have to be good.”
Sharks coach Sean Everitt said his team’s priorities are very different – even though the will play to win.
He said the message to the team is to show the coaches that they understand and can execute the game plan.
He admitted that the Cheetahs’ motivation is different to that of the four Europe-bound franchises.
“We are using this as preparation for the rainbow Cup and we need to build depth in our squad,” Everitt said.
“With our schedule of Rainbow Cup, double round Currie Cup and Pro16 it is vital that we develop depth.”
All this week’s teams and predictions below video!
Tuesday, March 9
Griquas v Stormers
(Griqua Stadium, Kimberley – Kick-off: 16.45; 14.45 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Stormers to win by 12 points
Teams
Griquas: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Carl Els, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Nqobisizwe Mxoli.
Replacements – from: 16 Hendrick Luus, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Jo-Hanko de Villiers, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Raegan Oranje, 26 Harlon Klaasen.
Stormers: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Sihle Njezula, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements – from: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Evan Roos, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Chris Schreuder, 23 Edwill van der Merwe, 24 Sazi Sandi, 25 Abner van Reenen.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Mpho Matsaung
TMO: JJ Wagner
Pumas v Bulls
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls to win by eight points
Teams
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Morne Joubert, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Ali Mgjima, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Neil Marais, 9 Chriswil September, 8 Francois Kleinhans, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Pieter van Vuuren (captain), 4 Brandon Valentine, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Hendrik van Schoor, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Michael Benade, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Dian Badenhorst, 22 Eddie Fouché, 23 Erich Cronje.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Tim Agaba, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements – from: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Nolan Pienaar, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Werner Gouws, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 Richard Kriel, 24 Henco Beukes, 25 Willie Potgieter, 26 Dawid Kellerman
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Ashleigh Murray
TMO: Pro Legoete
Wednesday, March 10
Eastern Province Elephants v Lions
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth – Kick-Off: 16.45; 14.45 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Lions to win by 25 points
Teams
Eastern Province: 15 Courtney Winnaar (captain), 14 Qeutyne Oerson, 13 Athi Mayinje, 12 Sherwin Slater, 11 Christopher Hollis, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Josh Alldermann, 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: Morné Brandon, Banele Mthenjane, Asenathi Nthlabakanye, Mandisi Mtiyane, Izan Esterhuizen, Morné van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Luke Rossouw, Sibusiso Shongwe, Jarod Cairns
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Phumzile Mbewu, Sean Muller
TMO: Christie du Preez
Cheetahs v Sharks
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs to win by seven points
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Aidon Davis, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Conraad van Vuuren, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Chris Smit.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 Murray Koster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Werner Kok.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby & Jaco Kotze
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
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