Lions vs Cheetahs, the battle of the cats
There is going to be a battle of the cats when the Toyota Cheetahs visit the Emirates Lions on Saturday in the third round of the Super Rugby Unlocked.
The two teams go into the game with contrasting fortunes, the Cheetahs are the tournaments form team with two wins and sitting on top of the log with 9 points, while the Lions are winless in the two games.
The Lions are a wounded beast after four of their players tested positive for Coivd-19 while several were placed in isolation as per protocol.
Head coach Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen is optimistic about his side’s chances of finally getting their first win, after coming close in the travels against the Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers respectively.
“I think we were in the game in both games, that’s a positive, I think we had the opportunity to clinch the win in both games. We were seconds away from winning the two games, we are aware of the, we’ll take confidence from it and also be realistic, we have to start finishing games off now,” said van Rooyen.
Skipper Elton Jantjies is out with a grade 1 calf injury, the reigns for this weekends game will be taken up by centre Dan Kriel, who is not wobbled by leading the side under the pressure they find themselves in.
“I think for the last two weeks we have shown positive signs in the direction that we are going, unfortunately, we haven’t got a win yet. The mood is positive in the camp, we are training well, we are excited about this weekends challenge,” said Kriel.
The Free Staters will have a new captain in Junior Pokomela, who takes over from Ruan Pienaar. Their confidence is on cloud nine after their two-home win against the Phakisa Pumas and Vodacom Bulls, the victories were major statements, sending a message of some sort to SA Rugby.
The teams:
Emirates Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel (captain), 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela (captain), 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais. Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Chris Massyn, 22 Ruben de Haas, 23 William Small-Smith.
