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Johannesburg, ZA
Venue : Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick Off : 19h10 (local), 17h10 (GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Ref 1:Jason Jaftha/TBC (South Africa),
Assistant Ref 2:Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO:Johan Greeff (South Africa) with Pieter de Bruin (South Africa) in training
Lions:
Starting VX:
15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Stefan Watermeyer, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 MB Lusaseni, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 JW Jonker, 23 Coenie van Wyk.
Stormers:
Starting VX:
15 Gio Aplon, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Michael van der Spuy, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Damian de Allende, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements:
16 Deon Fourie, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Ryno Eksteen.
Match preview:
The Lions will be playing with confidence after beating the Cheetahs (21-20) in their own backyard in round 1 (all their points scored by SR debutant fly half Marnitz Boshoff; 6 penalties and 1 drop goal) in what was the Lions' first game in Superugby after sitting the entire 2013 season out and gaining promotion back to Superugby through a superior points difference in their promotion/relegation matches with the Southern Kings. The question for the Lions will be if they can continue the upsets which will be a tough ask seeing as the Cheetahs were by and large their own worst enemies in round 1 playing with an uncharacteristic but understandable rustiness after playing no warm up matches against recognized 1st class teams while the Lions had a tough preseason taking on near full strength Sharks and Stormers sides in the lead up to round 1.
Which brings us to the Stormers. The Lions lost their preseason game but with the Stormers only now entering Superugby action after having a bye in round 1 for the second year running the Lions will fancy themselves the better prepared team especially at home. The Stormers though played 3 warm up matches and gave both the experienced campaigners and young blood game time losing only their final warm up game in an inter-franchise derby against 'poor cousins' the Boland. It has to be said though that the side was near full of Superugby rookies with few of their best players. The Stormers should be favorites but are going to take the field with many young faces new to this level of competition so should not take victory for granted- as the Cheetahs probably did at the cost of a defeat.
Personally I see the additions of young talent as a breath of fresh air for the Stormers who have found crossing the try line a difficulty in the last couple of seasons despite placing high on the overall logs. Look for a greater (though still lacking) sense of attack from the Cape franchise despite injury to their most potent running back Cheslin Kolbe while they keep their hard nosed edge up front despite star lock Eben Etzebeth only expected back towards the end of the season- Stormers by 9.
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