One enforced change as MTN Golden Lions close in on quarter-final |
|
March 31 - The MTN Golden Lions have made only one injury-enforced change to the team to play the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in a Vodacom Cup match at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.
Of the team that beat the EP Kings 11-10 in Port Elizabeth last weekend, flank Jonathan Mokuena is not available because of injury. He is replaced by Rinus Riekert who moves up from the bench, where his place will be taken by UJ lock Johan Snyman.
Mokuena, who captained the side last weekend, was replaced by Riekert 22 minutes into the Kings match. The Golden Lions will be captained by former Bulls loose forward Dries van Schalkwyk in Saturday.
The Lions, with three league matches to play, are currently third on the North Section of the Vodacom Cup log – two points behind GWK Griquas and Ford Pumas, who both have 18 log points. The Leopards, on 11 points, are in fourth place.
After Saturday the Golden Lions still have an away match against the SWD Eagles and a home fixture against the Border Bulldogs. The Leopards have matches against the Boland Cavaliers, the Sharks XV and Western Province.
A win on Saturday will therefore come close to guaranteeing the Lions a place in the quarter-finals as the Leopards will then have to win two of their remaining three matches against tough opposition. And a win on Saturday will of course also help to ensure the Golden Lions a better play-off draw should they advance that far, as looks likely.
The MTN Golden Lions team is:
Marius Delport, Tonderai Chavhanga, Jannie Boshoff , Alwyn Hollenbach, Dusty Noble, Burton Francis, Michael Bondesio, Dries van Schalkwyk (capt.), Rinus Riekert , Jaco Kriel, David de Villiers, George Earle, Kevin Buys, Martin Bezuidenhout, Wayne Swart. Replacements: Abraham le Roux, Ross Geldenhuys, Johan Snyman, Renaldo Bothma, JP Joubert, Hein Cronje, Divan Ferguson.
|
|
