Rugby
KweséESPN Staff 6y

SA team news from the opening week of Super Rugby 2018

Rugby, Super Rugby

Team news and views ahead of the opening round of Super Rugby 2018.

Stormers vs. Jaguares, Saturday, 15:05 (CAT), Cape Town

STORMERS

Team news

Four players are set to make their Stormers debut in the Super Rugby season-opener against the Jaguares at Newlands on Saturday.

Raymond Rhule, Carlu Sadie, George Whitehead and JJ Engelbrecht are all set to wear the blue and white for the first time. Rhule starts on the left wing, while and prop Sadie, flyhalf Whitehead and utility back Engelbrecht are among the replacements.

Coach's view

Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck: "The squad has put in a lot of hard work in preparation for this game, so hopefully we will see that pay off on Saturday. It is always great to start the season in front of our loyal fans at DHL Newlands, so it should be another special occasion."

Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 George Whitehead, 23 JJ Engelbrecht.

JAGUARES

Team news

New captain Pablo Matera will lead a Jaguares side full of internationals and plenty of experience at Newlands. However, the Argentine team haven't yet beaten the Stormers and will be in a for a tough fight on Saturday.

Coach's view

Jaguares head coach Mario Ledesma: "They are very dangerous and have high quality players. In all positions, beyond the lack of some important ones, they have players who have played for the Springboks, or who will do so in the future."

Jaguares: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertanou, 8 Tomas Lezana, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Felipe Arregui

Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Javier Diaz, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Juan Martin Hernandez, 23 Bautista Delguy.

Lions v Sharks 17:15 (CAT), Johannesburg

LIONS

Team news

No 8 and captain Warren Whiteley, who has now fully recovered from a long-term groin injury, will lead the Lions out in their first match of the season.

Springboks Andries Coetzee, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Franco Mostert, Ruan Dreyer and Malcolm Marx are also included in the starting line-up, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg are on the bench.

Coach's view

Lions head coach Swys du Bruin: "It was an easy decision to select the team, with no real surprises in the final selection. The guys prepared really well and I must say everyone trained extremely hard in the off-season, so we are looking forward to this huge challenge. Personally, I am very blessed, excited and honoured to take charge of the Emirates Lions team on Saturday. "

Team

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

SHARKS

Team news

Ruan Botha will lead a Sharks team with plenty of fire power in the starting line-up and on the bench.

Flyhalf Rob du Preez has been selected ahead of Curwin Bosch, who us on the bench. Other Springboks Tendai Mtawarira, Daniel du Preez and Michael Claassens will also give coach Robert du Preez plenty of options in the second half.

Coach's view

Sharks head coach Robert du Preez: "This squad has worked extremely hard in the pre-season and what's especially pleasing to see is the vibe and excitement in the group. Every player was given an opportunity during the warm-up games and so many of them put their hands up, which made it extremely difficult to decide on our match-day 23. This is an important game and a great start will set the tone for our campaign."

Team

15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Ruan Botha (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 John-Hubert Meyer, 18 Tendai Mtawarira, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Daniel du Preez, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Kobus van Wyk.

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