Minimal changes to SA teams for weekend matches

The four South African teams in action in the penultimate round of league action in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have made minimal changes to their sides for this weekend's matches.

All the SA teams can still reach the Vodacom URC playoffs, but they will have to win this weekend to stay in the hunt, with the DHL Stormers looking to seal second spot on the standings.

<< CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL WEEKEND PREVIEW >>

The only change to the Cell C Sharks' starting team for their clash against Benetton on Friday (18h30) is at inside centre, where the injured Rohan Janse van Rensburg - who was stretchered off in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse last weekend - is replaced by Australian international Ben Tapuai, with Marnus Potgieter coming onto the bench.

The Vodacom Bulls have named Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen to face Zebre Parma on Saturday (13h00), in what will be his first start in the Vodacom URC since recovering from his shoulder injury seven weeks ago.

Promising prop Rhynardt Rijnsburger and lock Ruan Delport will get their first starts of the Vodacom URC campaign for the Emirates Lions against Leinster on Saturday (16h00), while Stean Pienaar comes in for the rested Rabz Maxwane at wing, and Darrien Landsberg returns to the fold as lock cover on the bench.

And the DHL Stormers have made four changes to their starting team to face Munster on Saturday (18h15) - Ruben van Heerden (lock), Hacjivah Dayimani (No 8) and Willie Engelbrecht (flanker) will start upfront, with Paul de Wet named at scrumhalf, while Bok loose forward Evan Roos is set to make his return from injury from the replacements bench.

Teams:

Cell C Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché. Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marnus Potgieter, 23 Thaakir Abrahams.

Vodacom Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.

Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Rynhardt Jonker, 23 Andries Coetzee.

DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Seabelo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

Cell C Sharks DHL Stormers Emirates Lions Vodacom Bulls Vodacom United Rugby Championship

Rescheduled Vodacom URC derbies confirmed...

The new dates for the two opening round Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies involving the four South African teams...

Bulls and Sharks shine for SA in Vodacom URC...

The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks provided a ray of light for South Africa’s teams in the Vodacom United Rugby ...

SA sides gear up for important round before break...

Another gripping round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship action awaits this weekend as the Emirates Lions face their ...

Coastal sides bounce back as Lions remain unbeaten...

The Emirates Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers made it a Super Saturday for the South African franchises in ...

Late flourish sees WP defend their U21 crown...

DHL Western Province scored two tries in as many minutes at the death of an absorbing SA Rugby Under-21 final as they be...

SA teams prepare for Irish and Italian invasion

The DHL Stormers will be hunting a victory this weekend to remain in second place on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log, while the other three South African franchises will be under immense pressure to register victories to remain in the race for playoff spots as the competition strikes the penultimate round of pool matches with an invasion of Irish and Italian teams.

The 2023 Currie Cup Bulletin #11

All eight provincial teams will have plenty to play for in the sixth round of the Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend, while the First Division and Mzansi Challenge continues with matches in George, Despatch, Harare and Strand.

Dazel finalises SA squad for Challenger Series

Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel added Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Jakkie Cilliers to his final training squad for World Rugby’s Sevens Challenger Series to be played on consecutive weekends in Stellenbosch later this month, while Nadine Roos will also make a timely return to South Africa.

Cullen and Leinster bring a deep love for rugby to SA

When Leo Cullen speaks about coaching one of the great teams in world rugby and Leinster’s forthcoming Vodacom United Rugby Championship double-header in South Africa, there is a moment where his words become far more than just tactics and strategies and log points.

Focus returns to playoff race for SA sides

South Africa’s four rugby franchises will need a new approach – a rethink – of their strategy when it comes to European competitions next season after they exited at the quarter-final stage in their first outings on the continent.

Stormers stumble in crucial clash against Munster

The DHL Stormers dropped to third place on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log on Saturday after suffering a disappointing 26-24 defeat in a thrilling match against Munster in the penultimate pool round at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

Nienaber to conclude Bok coaching reign in France

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will finish his run as the national coach at the conclusion of the team’s Rugby World Cup campaign in France before taking up a position in Leinster’s coaching ranks in Ireland next year.

Bulls run riot against Zebre in Johannesburg

Canan Moodie scored a hat-trick as the Vodacom Bulls claimed an important 78-12 bonus-point win (half-time 36-5) against Zebre Parma in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Leinster find pot of gold in Johannesburg

Leinster scored 25 second-half points – mostly with 13 players on the field – to beat a brave, but ultimately outclassed Emirates Lions team by 39-36 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, with the winning points scored in the 79th minute of a pulsating Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash.

Vodacom URC top-eight all but locked in

Barring the apple cart being upset and dismantled in the final round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, South Africa will again have three teams in the quarter-finals after the Vodacom Bulls booked their place in the top eight alongside the DHL Stormers, while the Cell C Sharks did enough to ensure that they are in pole position to remain in playoff contention.