Lions wing Angelo Davids ready to tear into former Western Province teammates
Rugby
Angelo Davids of the Lions scores, despite the attentions of Phiko Sobahle of the Sharks, at Ellis Park last weekend. He will face his former Province teammates on Saturday.
Image: Backpagepix
Lions wing Angelo Davids will face his former Western Province teammates when the Joburg side host the visitors from the Cape in Saturday's Currie Cup match at Ellis Park after a try-scoring debut against the Sharks last weekend.
The former Blitzbok flyer joined the Lions recently as a replacement for Springboks wing Edwill van der Merwe, who left for the Sharks, and could hardly have asked for a better start at his new home than the 46-5 win over the defending champions.
Victory against his former side would arguably be sweeter for Davids, who was once again named in Mziwakhe Nkosi's Lions starting side that features three changes to the matchday 23.
The Lions team that will face WP in Saturday's Currie Cup clash at Ellis Park.
Image: Supplied
Renzo du Plessis comes in for the injured Izan Esterhuizen at flank for the Joburg side that dominated the visitors from Durban in a repeat of last year's final. It is the only change to the starting line-up, with the other two changes made to the bench.
Hooker Marno Grobbelaar is in line for his Currie Cup debut off the bench, while Siba Qoma willl provide back row cover. Morgan Naude drops out of the match 23 for the Lions team that is once again captained by hooker Jaco Visagie.
Province will be hoping to hit back after last weekend's 48-23 hammering at home by the Bulls.
The Cape side made four changes to their starting line-up for clash against the Lions. There are two changes to the backline and two in the forward pack, with one positional switch.
The changes in the backline come on both wings, with Sako Makata and Jared Africa both backed to start, while Junior Springbok and Sevens star Gino Cupido comes onto the replacements bench.
Up front, former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen starts at tighthead prop, and in the loose trio Louw Nel moves to the back of the scrum, while Gideon van Wyk starts at blindside flank.
Head coach Labeeb Levy said that it will require a step-up in performance to get the first win of the campaign in Johannesburg.
“We have made some changes, but have looked to keep most of the combinations from our opening match so that the players can build an understanding and synergy.
“We saw some promising signs in the second half of our first game and it will require a big lift in standards to take that forward against a competitive Lions side on Saturday,” he said.
Teams for Ellis Park (3pm kickoff):
Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard 14 Angelo Davids 13 Manuel Rass 12 Rynhardt Jonker 11 Rabz Maxwane 10 Lubabalo Dobela 9 Nico Steyn 8 WJ Steenkamp 7 Renzo du Plessis 6 Jarod Cairns 5 Darrien Landsberg 4 Raynard Roets 3 RF Schoeman 2 Jaco Visagie (capt) 1 Morgan Naude.
Replacements: 16 Marno Grobbelaar 17 SJ Kotze 18 Heiko Pohlmann 19 Dylan Sjoblom 20 Siba Xoma 21 Layton Horn 22 Kade Wolhuter 23 Kelly Mpeku.
Western Province: 15 Shilton van Wyk, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Luke Burger, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Gideon van Wyk, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Erhard Lambrecht, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Gino Cupido, 23 Tristan Leyds.