Mapoe out of Sharks game
Two crunching local derbies are on the menu on Saturday as part of a shorter than usual Vodacom Super Rugby fixture list. The DHL Stormers face the Toyota Cheetahs in Cape Town (15h05), while the resurgent Cell C Sharks travel to Johannesburg for their encounter with the Emirates Lions (17h15).
The Vodacom Bulls are in action on Saturday when they face the unbeaten Chiefs in Hamilton, where the kick-off is scheduled for 08h35 (SA time), while the Southern Kings have a bye, along with the Brumbies, Jaguares, and Sunwolves, meaning only seven matches are scheduled for the sixth round.
Arno Botha will make his first appearance of the season for the Vodacom Bulls in Hamilton, a venue where the men from Pretoria last won in 2010. Botha comes in for injured Hanro Liebenberg at No 8 as part of a couple of rotational changes announced by coach, Nollis Marais.
Meanwhile, Vodacom Bulls skipper Adriaan Strauss will extend his record as the most capped South African hooker in the tournament when he runs out in his 135th match.
In Cape Town, promising and versatile 19-year old flank Cobus Wiese will make his first start for the DHL Stormers in their home match against the visitors from Bloemfontein. The young loose forward came off the bench to make his debut in the 44-31 win over the Sunwolves last weekend and earns a starting berth in place of injured Rynhardt Elstadt.
DHL Stormers coach Robbie Fleck also named fit-again Cheslin Kolbe on the right wing, while the Springbok lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit as well as prop Frans Malherbe are all back in the side after being rested last weekend.
Good news for the Toyota Cheetahs is that their captain, Francois Venter, has been cleared and will lead the side from the midfield after struggling with a hamstring niggle earlier in the week. Wing Sergeal Petersen also overcame his knee and hamstring problems and will start at wing in place of JW Jonker.
Former Junior Bok wing Luther Obi, recently recruited from Pretoria, was named on the bench and will make his competition debut should he go on as replacement for the Toyota Cheetahs, who are looking for their first victory in the Mother City since 2006.
In the final match of the weekend from a South African perspective, Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will make his 50th appearance for the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg.
Springbok Lionel Mapoe will not feature for the Emirates Lions against the Cell C Sharks because of a troublesome hand injury. Mapoe was earlier this week bracketed with Dillon Smit on the bench but has failed to recover in time.
Otherwise, the Emirates Lions’ starting team from last weekend’s victory over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth will run out again this weekend against the visitors from Durban.
The Durbanites, however, will be without Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira, who was not considered for selection this week due to the death of his grandmother. He has been replaced at loosehead prop by Thomas du Toit.
Other interesting team news is the inclusion of No 8 Dan du Preez alongside his twin brother, flanker Jean-Luc. Garth April gets the nod at fullback while Curwin Bosch continues as flyhalf in place of the injured Pat Lambie in what will be a tough challenge for the Cell C Sharks, as the Emirates Lions have not lost at home in 11 months.
Arno Botha will make his first appearance of the season for the Vodacom Bulls in Hamilton, a venue where the men from Pretoria last won in 2010. Botha comes in for injured Hanro Liebenberg at No 8 as part of a couple of rotational changes announced by coach, Nollis Marais.
Meanwhile, Vodacom Bulls skipper Adriaan Strauss will extend his record as the most capped South African hooker in the tournament when he runs out in his 135th match.
In Cape Town, promising and versatile 19-year old flank Cobus Wiese will make his first start for the DHL Stormers in their home match against the visitors from Bloemfontein. The young loose forward came off the bench to make his debut in the 44-31 win over the Sunwolves last weekend and earns a starting berth in place of injured Rynhardt Elstadt.
DHL Stormers coach Robbie Fleck also named fit-again Cheslin Kolbe on the right wing, while the Springbok lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit as well as prop Frans Malherbe are all back in the side after being rested last weekend.
Good news for the Toyota Cheetahs is that their captain, Francois Venter, has been cleared and will lead the side from the midfield after struggling with a hamstring niggle earlier in the week. Wing Sergeal Petersen also overcame his knee and hamstring problems and will start at wing in place of JW Jonker.
Former Junior Bok wing Luther Obi, recently recruited from Pretoria, was named on the bench and will make his competition debut should he go on as replacement for the Toyota Cheetahs, who are looking for their first victory in the Mother City since 2006.
In the final match of the weekend from a South African perspective, Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will make his 50th appearance for the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg.
Springbok Lionel Mapoe will not feature for the Emirates Lions against the Cell C Sharks because of a troublesome hand injury. Mapoe was earlier this week bracketed with Dillon Smit on the bench but has failed to recover in time.
Otherwise, the Emirates Lions’ starting team from last weekend’s victory over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth will run out again this weekend against the visitors from Durban.
The Durbanites, however, will be without Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira, who was not considered for selection this week due to the death of his grandmother. He has been replaced at loosehead prop by Thomas du Toit.
Other interesting team news is the inclusion of No 8 Dan du Preez alongside his twin brother, flanker Jean-Luc. Garth April gets the nod at fullback while Curwin Bosch continues as flyhalf in place of the injured Pat Lambie in what will be a tough challenge for the Cell C Sharks, as the Emirates Lions have not lost at home in 11 months.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre