Arno Botha will captain a much-changed Vodacom Bulls side that will take on the Sigma Lions in a Carling Currie Cup clash at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides are on the back of high-scoring mid-week fixtures which saw the Vodacom Bulls emerge emphatic 56-33 winners over Tafel Lager Griquas on Wednesday, while their rivals from across the Jukskei River played to a scintillating 44-44 tie with the Toyota Cheetahs.

With an expectation of a gruelling contest in Johannesburg, Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has opted to use the rotation policy to full effect with a total of nine changes made to the starting XV for Saturday’s clash, with the bulk of the starters from the mid-week game providing cover from the bench this weekend.

Among the changes is the half-back pairing of Keagan Johannes, at scrumhalf, and flyhalf Chris Smith who will receive starting berths. There will also be a changed front row as props Simphiwe Matanzima and Jacques van Rooyen will buckle down alongside hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels for the clash.

Looking ahead to the game, White said: “We have yet another short turnaround from our previous match. It is therefore imperative that we utilise our squad effectively and implement our rotational policy wisely.

“We are at a crucial stage of the competition where teams are jostling for spots in the playoffs, and the Sigma Lions are very much in the race for a top four finish. Therefore, we expect them to come out guns blazing this weekend, and we will need to be on high alert and ready to counter whatever they throw at us.”

The match will kick off at 13h30 on Saturday, and it will be televised on SuperSport.

The Vodacom Bulls team to face the Sigma Lions is:

STARTERS:
David Kriel (Betway Centurion)
Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria)
Lionel Mapoe (Pretoria)
Harold Vorster (Northam)
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Betway Centurion)
Chris Smith (Harlequins)
Keagan Johannes (FNB Tuks)
WJ Steenkamp (Tuine)
Muller Uys (FNB Tuks)
Arno Botha (ABE Midas Naka Bulle) – Captain
Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria)
Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion)
Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine)
Jan-Hendrik Wessels (U20)
Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

IMPACT:
Schalk Erasmus (Tuine)
Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion)
Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Elrigh Louw (FNB Tuks)
Zak Burger (Tuine)
Johan Goosen (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Stedman Gans (Northam)
Joe van Zyl (Harlequins)
Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria)
Cornal Hendricks (Northam)

Stravino Jacobs (Harlequins)

The Vodacom Bulls will go into their Carling Currie Cup clash against the Cell C Sharks with a new-look front row when the two sides face each other at Jonsson Kings Park on Friday night.

With livewire hooker, Johan Grobbelaar, having been called up to the Springbok camp this week following impressive performances in the Vodacom Bulls’ blue colours, Schalk Erasmus has been promoted to the starting XV, where he will be joined by Lizo Gqoboka and Mornay Smith as the new prop combination.

The versatile Cornal Hendricks, who has featured on the right wing in the previous two outings, will make a return to inside centre this week where he will partner up with Harold Vorster, who switches to No.13, for the midfield pairing.

The backline has also received a boost with the return of Stedman Gans from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he represented the SA Sevens side. Gans will slot into the number 11 jersey on the left wing, with ‘live-wire’ Madosh Tambwe also making a return.

Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, expressed the side’s enthusiasm ahead of the clash in Durban, “It’s another tough week against a Cell C Sharks team that will want to bounce back from their defeat to the Tafel Lager Griquas last weekend.

“It is a top of the table clash, so we can expect a fierce battle with the Cell C Sharks, who will certainly be up for the contest in an effort to topple us from the top of the log. There is definitely a lot to play for and we will have to be at the top of our game in this contest to continue with the momentum we have so far in the competition.

“We are fortunate to be able to count on the experience of players like Lizo, who starts this week. We are also excited to have the likes of Madosh and Stedman back to bolster the squad, while relying on both the experience and exuberance of the bench to close off the game for us.”

The match will kick off at 19h00 and will be televised on SuperSport.

The Vodacom Bulls team is:

STARTERS:
David Kriel (Betway Centurion)
Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria)
Harold Vorster (Northam)
Cornal Hendricks (Northam)
Stedman Gans (Northam)
Johan Goosen (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Zak Burger (Tuine)
Elrigh Louw (FNB Tuks)
Muller Uys (FNB Tuks)
Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle) – Captain
Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Walt Steenkamp (Betway Centurion)
Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion)
Schalk Erasmus (Tuine)
Lizo Gqoboka (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)

IMPACT:
Jan-Hendrik Wessels (U20)
Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Mhleli Dlamini (Harlequins)
Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria)
Arno Botha (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Keagan Johannes (FNB Tuks)
Chris Smith (Harlequins)
Sibongile Novuka (ABE Midas Naka Bulle)
Jacques van Rooyen (Tuine)
Reinhardt Ludwig (U20)
WJ Steenkamp (Tuine)
Marco Jansen van Vuren (Pretoria)
Richard Kriel (Tuine)

South Africa ‘A’ and the Vodacom Bulls will join the action of the Castle Lager Lions Series, as SA Rugby confirmed an epic double-header at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, with the match between the DHL Stormers and the British & Irish Lions taking place later at the same venue in the Mother City.

SA ‘A’ will kick off at 13h00 against the Vodacom Bulls, while the match between the DHL Stormers and the British & Irish Lions will take place at the scheduled 18h00. Both encounters will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The Vodacom Bulls, who missed out on playing against the tourists on Saturday (due to positive COVID tests in their camp), will now get an opportunity to be part of the Castle Lager Lions Series.

“We’ve been looking at options to get the Springboks an additional match to help with their preparations for the Tests, as well as an opportunity for the Vodacom Bulls to be part of the series, and we’re very grateful that this game will take place,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.

“It’s obviously not what we had planned when the fixtures were first scheduled, but due to the pandemic, the situation is very fluid. Having said that, a double-header in Cape Town on Saturday is certainly something to look forward to and we’d like to thank everyone involved in making it a reality.”

SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus was pleased to have an additional fixture following the cancellation of the Springboks’ second Test against Georgia last weekend.

“We want to be as well prepared as possible when we meet the British & Irish Lions in the Castle Lager Lions Series, and this additional match offers us an invaluable opportunity to work on our structures, while at the same time offering the players an opportunity to stake a claim for places in the Test team,” said Erasmus.

“We had hoped for three matches in the build-up to the Test series, and the match against the Vodacom Bulls means we will get exactly that before we line up against the tourists.

“The Castle Lager Lions Series is a massive occasion for players and rugby fans as it only comes around every 12 years, and we must be as well prepared as possible when we run onto the field.”

Both fixtures are subject to final PCR testing for the DHL Stormers squad on Saturday morning.

The British & Irish Lions’ Castle Lager Lions Series match against the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday has been postponed with a view to rescheduling or to accommodate an alternative opponent, while the Springboks’ second Test against Georgia on Friday is also being reviewed.

Four Bulls players and one member of management returned positive tests which, in combination with their close contacts, made it impossible for them to field a team, according to Series safety protocols.

Series regulations make provision for additional midweek matches to be added on agreement between the organisations.

Meanwhile, four positive results among the Georgian team and four additional positive tests among Springbok players (Marvin Orie, Frans Steyn, Handre Pollard, and Frans Malherbe) plus six among management, including head coach Jacques Nienaber, and one masseuse, have further complicated planning.

The latest medical data from the Springbok and Georgian teams will be assessed by the Medical Advisory Group (MAG) on Wednesday morning.

“These positive results are a setback and have underlined the danger of transmissibility of the delta variant,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.

“The Springboks’ second Test against Georgia is now in serious doubt, but we will wait for the MAG to consider the data and we will make the final decision tomorrow.

“The priority is to maintain the integrity of the Test series and we will continue to focus on that.”

A further update will be issued on potential alternative opponents for the Lions and on the Springboks’ second Test against Georgia as soon as the positions are finalised.

The British & Irish Lions’ match against the Cell C Sharks at Emirates Airline Park on Wednesday, KO 19h00 (18h00 BST) will take place as scheduled.

In an exciting acquisition, the Vodacom Bulls have landed the services of Springbok winger, Ruan Combrinck, who will arrive at Loftus Versfeld on July 1.

The 31-year-old speedster comes with a reputation of having a nous for scoring tries for the Springboks in the 7 Test matches he featured in, the Xerox Golden Lions and Emirates Lions, as well as French club, Stade Francais.

Combrinck’s arrival will not only add depth to the outside backs, but his experience since making his professional debut for Western Province in 2010 will be invaluable for the Tshwane side.

“Any team will be fortunate to acquire a gem like Ruan, who has proven his outstanding abilities over the years. His signing will add to the depth of this team, and we have no doubts that his on-field, as well as his off-field capabilities, will contribute to the Vodacom Bulls reaching greater heights,” said Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White.