DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 12: Trevor Nyakane of the Vodacom Bulls during the Carling Currie Cup match between Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls at Johnson Kings Park Stadium on December 12, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Currie Cup: Bulls vs Lions preview and kick-off time – 6 January 2021

The Bulls tackle the Lions in a midweek Currie Cup clash at Loftus that will influence the race for a home semi-final.

by James Richardson

06-01-2021 11:58

in Currie Cup

We will be treated to a rare midweek Currie Cup clash between the Bulls and the Lions after their match was rescheduled.

The action will get underway at 16:00 on Wednesday 6 January with the match broadcast on SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand.

A massive Jukskei derby

A victory for the Bulls in their penultimate fixture will catapult them into a favourable position to wrap up the pool stage as the top team for a semi-final and possibly a final at Loftus.

The Lions meanwhile wrap up their round-robin campaign already assured of a spot in the semi-finals but needing a win to force themselves into the home semi-final battle. The Lions will enjoy a bye this weekend, but their hopes of a semi-final at Ellis Park will hinge on other results going their way.

The Bulls won a pulsating encounter between the two squads in Super Rugby Unlocked.

Team news

Initially, Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, named an extended squad of 28 players as the team awaited COVID-19 test results, with Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka back in the mix after not playing at all since the season resumed due to injury.

Also back from injury is Elrigh Louw (flank), while former SA Schools wing Stravino Jacobs and Blitzbok forward Tim Agaba (flanker) have also been included in the extended squad.

White finalised his match-23 on Tuesday afternoon, with Gqoboka, Louw and Jacobs all selected in the starting team and Agaba on the bench, amongst a number of changes to the side.

Experienced Springbok prop Jannie du Plessis, meanwhile, will run out for the Xerox Lions in one of three changes to coach Ivan van Rooyen’s starting team, replacing Wiehahn Herbst, while the other change in the forward pack is at flank, where Marnus Schoeman moves up from the replacements bench in place of Jaco Kriel.

In the backline, Burger Odendaal will add bulk to the midfield in place of Wandisile Simelane, who will make an impact off the bench.

*Team news courtesy of SA Rugby Communications

Currie Cup Teams: Bulls vs Lions

Bulls – 15 David Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Jay-Cee Nel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Tim Agaba

Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Francke Horn.