Kick Off teams won't be stampeding back to conservatism

With the Rainbow Cup being on the agenda the next time they take the field this weekend is full dress rehearsal time in the Kick Off 2021 series but that does not mean coaches and teams will be stampeding back to the conservative templates that put us to sleep last season.

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Cell C Sharks coach Sean Everitt did say ahead of Friday night’s Durban repeat of the Currie Cup final against the Vodacom Bulls that he’d like his players to be more “street smart”, meaning that he doesn’t want a repeat of his team’s last outing against the Emirates Lions where too many tries were given away off turn-over ball.

But that is just Everitt being wise, he insists it isn’t an indication he wants them to go back to the contestable kicking dominated game that invoked the ire of many Sharks supporters during the Currie Cup and Super Rugby Unlocked campaigns. What could put a dampener on the Sharks’ plans to continue with the exciting brand of rugby of rugby that has enthused fans during the preparation series is the predicted wet weather, which could force the Sharks to kick more.

That though is not the intent in the build-up to the game, and neither is it the intent of the DHL Stormers to return to the maul and set-piece dominated approach we saw in the return to play phase last year and early this year.

Stormers coach John Dobson said that although the Stormers would be more mindful of the need to use their clash with the Lions at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday as a warm-up for the next game, which will be for log points in the Rainbow Cup, that did not mean the conservative ethos would take over. The rugby the Stormers have played in the last three games is what they want to continue with when the competitive phase of this rugby year arrives.

“The rugby we played in the Currie Cup doesn’t befit us and it doesn’t fit the culture of rugby in the region, and neither was it the rugby the players want to play to be quite honest,” said Dobson. “We just needed to do that so we were prepared to play that way if we go to Connacht and play them in the mud in the middle of winter on a Friday night. We are pleased with the direction we are going in and we want to go more in that direction.”

With the Lions a team that claims running rugby as it’s DNA, and correctly so, the Cape Town Stadium game on a dry early autumn Cape Town evening should provide a treat for those who watch it, and ditto the game at Jonnson King’s Park on Friday night, weather permitting.

All the games have been close up to now and this weekend should be no different, although of course we should expect an exception on Sunday, when the struggling Eastern Province Elephants go to Bloemfontein to face the Toyota Cheetahs. The other game is between the Tafel Lager Griquas and New Nation Pumas in Kimberley on Saturday and there has been quite an intense rivalry between those two teams in recent years.

Kick Off 2021 Matches and Team news

Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls (Durban, Friday 19.00)

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will make his debut wearing the No 6 jersey. The Springbok captain is one of a number of players who were part of the conditioning group that will progress to match action on Friday evening.

Other returnees are Springbok props Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit, while Ruben van Heerden will partner his namesake Emile van Heerden in the second row, and Henco Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe complete the back row.

In the backline, former Junior Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will partner Boeta Chamberlain (flyhalf), with Marius Louw back at inside centre, while Sbu Nkosi is on the wing and Anthony Volmink at fullback.

There is still no Duane Vermeulen in the Bulls team, with Nizaam Carr continuing with the excellent job he has done in the other three games, but coach Jake White has changed up his team quite a bit. For instance, there is a new midfield pairing, while Morne Steyn returns to the No 10 jersey. He will have a big role to play in the game if, as anticipated, it is wet.

TEAMS

Cell C Sharks: Anthony Volmink, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Marius Louw, Yaw Penxe, Boeta Chamberlain, Jaden Hendrikse, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Henco Venter, Siya Kolisi, Emile van Heerden, Ruben van Heerden, Thomas du Toit, Fez Mbatha, Ox Nche. Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Mzamo Majola, John-Hubert Meyer, JJ van der Mescht, Phepsi Buthelezi, Sanele Nohamba, Rynhardt Jonker, Aphelele Fassi.

Vodacom Bulls: Richard Kriel, Madosh Tambwe, Marnus Potgieter, Dawid Kellerman, Diego Appollis, Morné Steyn, Zak Burger, Nizaam Carr (captain), Tim Agaba, Werner Gouws, Janko Swanepoel, Jan Uys, Marcel van der Merwe, Schalk Erasmus, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements (from): Janco Uys, Jacques van Rooyen, Mornay Smith, Raynard Roets, WJ Steenkamp, Keagan Johannes, Clinton Swart, Jay-Cee Nel, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Reinhardt Ludwig, Bernard van der Linde, Niel Beukes.

Tafel Lager Griquas v New Nation Pumas (Kimberley, Saturday 15.00)

Griquas received a boost when flyhalf Tinus de Beer was declared fit to face the Lowvelders. Both sides will be highly motivated for this match following successful outings in their previous matches.

The Northern Cape side finally got a win under their belt when they defeated Eastern Province last week in Port Elizabeth, while the Pumas pulled off a good win over theToyota Cheetahs. The Griquas changes have been kept to a minimum, with Stefan Ungerer again leading the team from scrumhalf.

The availability of De Beer means there are only minimal changes to the Kimberley side for their home encounter with the visitors from Mpumalanga.

De Beer starts again alongside fellow Junior Springbok Stefan Ungerer, who will again lead the side from scrumhalf.

TEAMS

Tafel Lager Griquas: Masixole Banda, Daniel Kasende, Michal Haznar, Andre Swarts, James Verity-Amm, Tinus de Beer, Stefan Ungerer (captain), Carl Els, Stefan Willemse, Gideon van der Merwe, Cameron Lindsay, Adre Smith, Andries Schutte, Alandre van Rooyen, Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): HJ Luus, Andrew Beerwinkel, Tijde Visser, Ewan Coetzee, Sibabalo Qoma, Ashlon Davids, Johnathan Francke, Enver Brandt, Bandisa Ndlovu, Tiaan van der Merwe, Raegan Oranje.

New Nation Pumas: Devon Williams, Mot Taljaard, Erich Cronje, Ali Nigijima, Tapiwa Mafura, Eddie Fouche, Chriswill September, Willie Engelbrecht, Francois Kleynhans, Daniel Maartens, Jaco Willemse, Pieter van Vuren (captain), Marne Coetzee, Simon Westraadt, Morgan Naude. Replacements: HP van Schoor, Dewald Maritz, Ig Prinsloo, Brandon Valentyn, Kwanda Dimaza, Phumzile Maqondwana, Kwezi Mafu, Ginter Smuts, Wayne van der Bank, Sebastian de Klerk.

DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions (Cape Town, Saturday 17.15)

The Stormers were yet to name their team at the time of writing but the big guns in the front row were anticipated to return to the starting line-up as the Cape side does its final dress rehearsal for the Rainbow Cup.

The Lions have expressed an intention of building confidence by ensuring they win their games recently, but their latest team selection is also an indication they are continuing to spread their net while doing that as there are several changes to the side that narrowly pipped the Sharks in a thrilling game in Johannesburg last Saturday.

It is interesting to see Sibusiso Sangweni given another chance after his excellent showing against the Elephants a few weeks back. The Lions certainly appear to have a good pool of young loose-forwards at the moment, with Vincent Tshituka sure to again be an important player for them in Cape town.

TEAMS

DHL Stormers: TBC

Emirates Lions: EW Viljoen; Stean Pienaar, Wandisile Simelane, Dan Kriel, Sibahle Maxwane; Elton Jantjies (capt), Ross Croné, Len Massyn, Vincent Tshituka, Sibusiso Sangweni, Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruben Schoeman, Carlu Sadie, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer. Replacements: Jan-Henning Campher, Nathan McBeth, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Wilhelm van der Sluys, MJ Pelser, Morné van den Berg, Fred Zeilinga, Burger Odendaal.

Toyota Cheetahs v Eastern Province Elephants (Bloemfontein, Sunday 15.00 )

The Cheetahs only name their team later on Friday but the Elephants will feel more emboldened by the return of Inny Radebe is back at flyhalf. The former Sharks player missed the Elephants’ second and third preparation matches after picking up a hand injury in their opening clash against the Vodacom Bulls and will bring some much-needed experience to the team.

As a result of Radebe’s return, Courtney Winnaar moves back to fullback with coach Peter de Villiers forced to make a number of changes as players in the EP squad are struggling with injury and illness.

Josia Twum-Boafo (left wing) and Ethan Jantjies (scrumhalf) will start this weekend, while the Elephants also welcome back the experienced CJ Velleman, who is back on the side of the scrum. Marzuq Maarman moves from loosehead to tighthead prop, while Siya Nzuzo will start in the No 1 jersey.

TEAMS

Toyota Cheetahs: TBC

Eastern Province: Courtney Winnaar, Xolela Payi, Athi Mayinye, Sherwin Slater, Josia Twum-Boafo, Inny Radebe (captain), Ethan Jantjies, Luigy van Jaarsveld, Anele Lungisa, CJ Velleman, Arnold Kleyn, Athenkosi Khetani, Marzuq Maarman, Robin Stevens, Siya Nzuzo. Replacements: Sithembiso Befile, Lyle Lombaard, Emile Klassen, Ntsika Fisante, Diego Williams, Sachin Toring, Divian Swanepoel, Lennox Holster.