Rainbow Cup SA, Round Two - teams and predictions
HEAVY HITTERS: The naming of Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad this week will intensify the domestic focus more on the leading candidates for the Springbok squad.
While the bulk of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad is based abroad, there is still a sizeable chunk of that team on display this weekend.
The likes of Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Francois de Klerk, Elton Jantjies, Lood de Jager (injured), Eben Etzebeth (injured), Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch, Rudolph Snyman (injured) and Franco Mostert have been plying their respective trades abroad, while François Steyn is stuck without game time at the Cheetahs.
However, the two local Rainbow Cup fixtures will feature the likes of Damian Willemse, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marvin Orie, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff (all Stormers), Cornal Hendricks, Morné Steyn, Embrose Papier, Duane Vermeulen, Marco van Staden, Lizo Gqoboka, Nizaam Carr (Bulls), Aphelele Fassi, Sibusiso Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Curwin Bosch, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Siya Kolisi, Thomas du Toit, Retshegofaditswe Nche (Sharks), Wandisile Simelane and Carlü Sadie (Lions).
While bragging rights and watered down titles are being flighted as motivation by many, the real measure and benchmark for success will be the form of the Bok candidates.
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White, speaking ahead of the big north-south derby in Cape Town, touched on the subject when he spoke of the "massive boost" of having veteran World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen back after his knee surgery.
"He is obviously trying to work his way into some form ahead of the B&I Lions series," White told a virtual media briefing ahead of his team's encounter with the Stormers.
"[After the lay-off] I am not expecting him to be at his best physically.
"However, it is nice to have him around and lead the team again.
"More importantly, he is sharing his knowledge and getting the team gelled for this weekend."
White said Vermeulen is very important to the Bulls as a leader.
"He brings a calmness to the team."
The coach pointed out that is why he was not willing to risk prop Trevor Nyakane (rib niggle) with the "bigger picture" of the Lions series in mind.
"He is helluva important to the Springboks and I did not want to risk him," the Bulls boss said of Nyakane's absence from the trip to Cape Town.
Looking at the game, White added that the Stormers' back three - of Damian Willemse, Sergeal Petersen and Leolin Zas - do pose a threat, but added that he has confidence in his own flyers - especially Stravino Jacobs, born and schooled in Paarl, who is very familiar with the often wet and windy Western Cape conditions this time of the year.
The other match this weekend will also have a lot of spotlight on certain individuals, although the Sharks are focusing a lot on their own form.
Sean Everitt reiterated his earlier statements of the "character" his team showed against the Stormers last week - coming back from 0-17 and 7-23 to win 33-30 in a tense and at times fractious encounter in Cape Town.
The Sharks coach pointed to the breakdown as an area of concern - coming from last week and going into this game.
"The number of turnovers we conceded [is a concern] and it is an area we are looking to tighten up," Everitt said.
"We worked really hard on our breakdown this week. We conceded many turnovers last week, which is not good enough - especially ahead of a game against the Lions.
"The Lions have two guys that are really good on the ball and it is an area we want to fix, because we enjoy an expansive game and to play that we need to sort out the breakdown."
He suggested the Lions gave the Bulls a run for their money in the first 70 minutes and remain a tough team - which always goes hard at the ball at the breakdown.
"They will pose a challenge up front and have young backs that are full of energy," the Sharks coach said.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen - sans a number of senior players, including regular captain Elton Jantjies - is continuing to put his trust in a young core.
He said the Sharks are a "very physical" team.
"They apply pressure with their defenders coming off the line fast and also with some tactical kicking," Van Rooyen said.
"They are a team that thrives on pressure and create chaos when they are on attack."
The Sharks are looking to refine their performance against the visitors.
"Our preparation is important, because we're a performance-driven side, we aren't results-driven," said Sharks loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe - one of the players hoping for a spot in the Bok squad for the British and Irish Lions series.
"We know that if we get our performance right, the results will follow."
* Teams and predictions for the two SA derbies below the video ...
Saturday, May 8
Sharks v Lions
(Kings Park, Durban - Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT)
The Sharks kicked off their campaign with a victory over the Stormers last weekend and have won their last seven home games at Kings Park in all competitions.
The Lions, who lost 9-22 to the Bulls in their Rainbow Cup opener, beat the Sharks 43-40 in Johannesburg in the Preparation Series in March to end a run of four successive defeats in the fixture.
However, they have found life difficult in Durban over the years, having beaten the Sharks just twice in the city - both in Super Rugby in April 2016 and July 2017.
Prediction
@rugby365com: Sharks by 12 points
Teams
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Werner Kok.
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 André Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Len Massyn, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Burger Odendaal.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Rasta Rasivhenge
TMO: Egon Seconds
Stormers v Bulls
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - Kick-off: 18.15; 16.15 GMT)
The Stormers will be looking to avoid the discipline issues that saw them have two men red-carded in their opening defeat to the Sharks.
John Dobson's side led 23-7 in that clash before going on to lose 30-33, while Kade Wolhuter, who scored 13 of their points, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
The last seven encounters between these franchises have all been won by the home side, while the Bulls' most recent victory in Cape Town was a 19-16 triumph at the old Newlands Stadium in Super Rugby in June 2011.
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by five points
Teams
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements - from: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Edwill van der Merwe, 24 Andre-Hugo Venter, 25 Adre Smith.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements – from: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 James Verity-Amm, 24 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 25 Reinhardt Ludwig, 26 Arno Botha, 27 Keagan Johannes, 28 Janco Uys.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Aimee Barrett-Theron
TMO: Marius Jonker
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* Additional reporting by @PRO14Official
* Picture credit: @BlueBullsRugby