PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 01: Elrigh Louw of the Vodacom Blue Bulls almost over to score his try during the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA match between Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on May 01, 2021 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images)
PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA Preview: Lions vs Bulls
The Bulls will be putting their 100% winning record on the line with a team showing a number of changes from last week and have won the last six matches against the Lions.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 01: Elrigh Louw of the Vodacom Blue Bulls almost over to score his try during the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA match between Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on May 01, 2021 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images)
The Lions will look to record their first PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA win when they host log leaders, the Bulls, in Johannesburg.
Last time out
The Lions are at home again this weekend, facing neighbours the Bulls who are now three points clear at the top of the table following their demolition job of the Sharks in the previous round.
Having lost at home to the Stormers in agonising fashion last weekend, the Lions are bidding to avoid losing back-to-back matches at Ellis Park for the first time since 2015.
Another victory for the men from Pretoria would put them on course to finish at the top of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA standings, with two games to follow, at home to the Stormers and away to the Sharks.
Click here for the match report
The Bulls beat the Lions 22-9 at Loftus Versfeld in the opening round of the Rainbow Cup, and have won 16 of the 22 previous meetings with their neighbours to the south.
What they said
“Consistency is the main thing for us; consistency in training, consistency in attitude and consistency in team selection,” said Lions coach Cash Van Rooyen.
“We are facing the team at the top of the log and it will be tough. We have a lot of respect for the Bulls.”
“The more we are successful on the pitch, the bigger the target on our back gets,” said Jake White, Bulls Director of Rugby.
“The Lions will not be happy with their returns over the first three matches and they will come out hunting this weekend. We need to be effective in playing our brand of rugby and keeping our momentum going.”
Match information – Lions vs Bulls
Date: Saturday 22 May
Time: 15:30
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Morne Ferreira
Television Match Official: Marius Jonker
TV: SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand channels
Lions vs Bulls – Teams
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen; 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Courtnall Skosan; 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 André Warner; 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Manuel Rass.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 James Verity-Amm, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
