Lions hope of winning series depends on beating Stormers
After loss to Sharks, second defeat on Saturday is unthinkable
Defeat against the Stormers could fatally wound the Lions’ hopes of winning Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked series on Saturday (kickoff 7pm).
In a tournament which is more of a sprint that a marathon, the Lions cannot afford a second defeat on the road when they travel to Newlands.
After a narrow 19-16 loss at the hands of the Sharks in their opening game, the Lions are desperate to get out of the starting blocks against a powerful Stormers side that is laden with Springboks.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made only one change to the match day squad which was beaten by the Sharks.
After a standout showing in Durban, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg has been rewarded with a starting berth.
Ross Cronje comes in to replace the injured scrumhalf Dillon Smit who went under the knife on Tuesday for a dislocated shoulder.
It is expected that Smit will be sidelined for up to four months.
An upbeat Van Rooyen said he took many positives out of his team’s narrow loss in Durban.
“Obviously we were bitterly disappointed to lose, but the character and fight for the whole 80 minutes the guys showed, was unbelievable, ” he said.
“So I’m happy with the effort, but sad about the result.
“We want to challenge the players to adapt to different opponents and we had a specific plan for the Sharks.”
Lions captain Elton Jantjies felt his side had taken a step up against the Sharks despite ending up on the losing side.
“It was probably a 7/10 for us in terms of performance, and that’s coming from a 3/10,” he said.
“So we will just keep training hard.
“To only lose by three points in Durban shows that we are doing the right things.”
The Stormers have made two changes to their starting line-up that beat the Lions in the Super Fan Saturday pre-season match in Pretoria last month.
Springbok Bongi Mbonambi rotates with Scarra Ntubeni in the only change to a strong pack which includes Springboks in captain Siya Kolisi and props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.
In the only change to the backline, Sergeal Petersen, who has recovered from a foot injury, takes his place on the right wing in place of Seabelo Senatla (hamstring injury).
“This is our first competitive match since March, so to say that we are looking forward to it would be an understatement,” Stormers coach John Dobson said.
“The players and coaches have all worked hard to prepare and we can’t wait to get going.
“We have been able to select a strong team with some quality players missing out, so the challenge will be to gel as a unit and start our campaign on the front foot.”
Kolisi says his team had no excuses not to challenge for a domestic title in Super Rugby Unlocked and the Currie Cup.
“It ’ s really important to lift a title,” he said. “That ’ s what we have decided to focus on. “We are not going to shout about it.
“Sometimes things won’t go our way in the games, but we will still have the same mission, which is to give our best to win this competition.” The only other match on Saturday pits Griquas against the Pumas in Kimberley.
Both sides are looking to bounce back after defeats in the opening round.
Stormers (vs Lions): 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Michal Haznar, 23 Tim Swiel. Lions: 15 EW Viljoen; 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Elton Jantjies (c), 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Ross Cronje, 23 Gianni Lombard, 24 Wandisile Simelane, 25 Ruan Dreyer. Pumas (vs Griquas): Devon Williams, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (c), 4 Darrien Landsburg, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude. Subs: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Heath Backhouse, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Neil Marais, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Dewald Maritz. Griquas: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 André Swarts, 11 James Verity-Amm, 10 George Whitehead (c), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Carl Els, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli. Subs: 16 Alandre van Rooyen, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Madot Mabokela, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Zandre Jordaan, 21 Gideon van der Merwe, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Berton Klaaasen.