This weekend will mark Siya Kolisi and some of his fellow Springboks’ first competitive match since the heroic Rugby World Cup final last November, with a bumper crowd of close to 55 000 spectators expected for two-match event.
The Springbok captain will lead the DHL Stormers in their 13h00 fixture against the Cell C Sharks, playing in the No 8 jersey, alongside RWC champions Steven Kitshoff, Herschel Jantjies and Damian Willemse.
Other RWC Boks players to feature on Sunday include Elton Jantjies, who will captain the Emirates Lions against the Vodacom Bulls (kick-off at 15h15), Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), as well as Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi and Thomas du Toit (all Cell C Sharks).
Two Springbok veterans, back from stints in France, will also be in action in the Jukskei Derby – Morné Steyn (flyhalf) for the Vodacom Bulls, and Jannie du Plessis (prop) for the Emirates Lions. In 2013, they reached their 50th Bok caps in the same Test, against Australia in Cape Town.
Apart from these players, a host of other Springboks and Blitzboks – such as Dylan Sage, Rosko Specman, Cornal Hendricks, Ivan van Zyl, Embrose Papier, Juandré Kruger, Tim Agaba, Courtnall Skosan, Jamba Ulengo, Marvin Orie, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Scarra Ntubeni, Wilco Louw, Dillyn Leyds, Hilton Lobberts, Andre Esterhuizen, Curwin Bosch, Louis Schreuder, Lwazi Mvovo, Ox Nche and Sikhumbuzo Notshe – will also be in action.
South Africa’s top players will wear jerseys inspired by Marvel super heroes – the Emirates Lions will be dressed in the familiar webbed suit of Spider-Man; the Cell C Sharks will adopt the Black Panther look; the DHL Stormers will be in the colours of Thor; and the Vodacom Bulls will front up as Captain America.
Fans are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite super heroes. Tickets are R60 apiece or four for R200 and are still available at Computicket.
The teams:
DHL Stormers vs Cell C Sharks (kick-off: 13h00)
DHL Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Thys Kitshoff, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 24 Seabelo Senatla, 25 Michael Hazner, 26 David Kriel.
Cell C Sharks squad: Backs – Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Boeta Chamberlain,Curwin Bosch, Jeremy Ward, Louis Schreuder, Lukhanyo Am, Lwazi Mvovo, Madosh Tambwe, Makazole Mapimpi, Marius Louw, Sanele Nohamba, Sbu Nkosi. Forwards – Dylan Richardson, Henco Venter, Hyron Andrews, James Venter, JJ van der Mescht, John-Hubert Meyer, Kerron van Vuuren, Le Roux Roets, Mzamo Majola, Ox Nche, Ruben van Heerden, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Tera Mtembu, Thomas du Toit, Tyler Paul.
Emirates Lions vs Vodacom Bulls (kick-off: 15h15)
Emirates Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Duncan Matthews, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Morne, van der Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Tyrone Green, 24 Jo-Hanko de Villiers, 25 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 26 Jan-Louis la Grange, 27 Wandisile Simelane.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Muller Uys, 6 Wian Vosloo, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ryno Pieterse, 20 Ruan Nortje/Jean Droste, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Divan Rossouw, 24 Dylan Sage, 25 Manie Libbok, 26 Jeandré Rudolph, 27 Abongile Nonkontwana, 28 Tim Agaba.
