Weather set to take centre stage when Lions take on Western Province
The weather is set to take centre stage and grab the headlines again when the Xerox Lions take on the DHL Western Province this Saturday evening at Emirates Park in Johannesburg, the game is going to be a late kick-off; scheduled at 19:00.
In the early morning hours, it was raining in Johannesburg, with the clouds forming heavily in the mid-morning. Day temperatures are expected to be at 21 degrees Celsius, with cloudiness, rain and scattered thunderstorms.
The two sides have felt the might of bad weather since the resumption of rugby. In the Super Rugby Unlocked, Western Province had their match against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld called off in the second half. The Lions experience the same last weekend in the Currie Cup opener against the Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberly.
The expected wet conditions are going to be a big test for both teams. Western Province is more equipped for the conditions though when looking at the territorial play tactic and usage of the physical pack. While the Lions will also depend on the kicking of skipper Elton Jantjies.
For the Lions, Tian Swanepoel will start at fullback, in place of the injured EW Viljoen, he’s one of only two changes to the side that grabbed a come-from-behind win over Tafel Lager Griquas last weekend. In the other change, Ross Cronje will swop places with Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf as part of a rotation policy.
Meanwhile, Western Province head coach John Dobson made three changes and two positional switches among the backs with Damian Willemse starting at fullback in place of the injured Warrick Gelant, while Tim Swiel will start at flyhalf in a new halfback pairing with Godlen Masimla.
Ruhan Nel has been drafted into the starting line-up at outside centre for the first time this season and will link up in midfield with Dan du Plessis, who moves to inside centre. The forward pack, meanwhile, remains unchanged.
Teams:
Xerox Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Roelof Smit, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Dan Kriel.
DHL Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Jaco Coetzee, 25 Kade Wolhuter, 26 Rikus Pretorius.
