Rugby
Leopards name strong side for Free State challenge─── MORGAN PIEK 10:00 Fri, 04 May 2018
The Leopards have named a strong side for Friday evening’s third round Super Sport Rugby Challenge match against the Toyota Free State XV in Bloemfontein.
Jonathan Mokuena and his changes will desperately be looking to return to winnings ways are losing 47-21 to the Griffons in round one, and last week’s 80-7 drubbing at the hands of the Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberly.
The side Free State will be a tricky customer to deal with, the likes of the Springbok scrumhalf, Rudy Paige, in the side. The Free State loose trio of the captain Niell Jordaan, Gerhard Olivier and Jasper Wiese will also keep the Leopards on their toes.
The head-to-head battle between Paige and the Leopards halfback, Chriswell September, should be a really fiery affair.
The battle in the second row between the 2.09m tall JP du Preez of the Free State and the Cheetahs linked Walt Steenkamp will also be an interesting one.
The Free State management will keep a keen eye on the dangerous Leopards fullback Tapiwe Mafura, who is linked with a move to Bloemfontein to replace the departing Clayton Blommetjies.
The host do enter the match with confidence following their comprehensive 56-31 win over the strong Griffons in Welkom last week.
Friday evening’s game at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein kicks off at 18:00.
Toyota Free State XV - 15 Ernst Stapelberg, 14 JP Coetzee, 13 Tertius Kruger, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Gerhard Olivier, 6 Niell Jordaan (captain), 5 JP du Preez, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Gunter Janse van Vuuren, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Quintin Venter.
Replacements – 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Justin Basson, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Ntokozo Vidima, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Aya Oliphant.
Leopards - 15 Tapiwe Mafura, 14 Justin Newman, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Bradley Moolman, 11 Gene Willemse, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout (captain), 7 HP Swart, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements – 16 Dane van der Westhuizen, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Jaco Swanepoel, 19 Boela Venter, 20 Eugene Hare, 21 DP de Lange, 22 Lungelo Gosa.
Morgna Piek OFM Sport
