All to play for this weekend

Emirates Lions have everything to play for this weekend as they face one of the top and strongest teams in the Vodacom Super Rugby series.

The local team from Johannesburg will play in the early Saturday hours (South African time 05:30) against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

The Cell C Sharks will travel to one of their favourite destinations in South Africa, when they take on the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon March 14.

It’s the only local derby on the Vodacom Super Rugby menu in round five as the Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers both prepare to face stiff opposition from New Zealand.

DHL Stormers will play host to the Chiefs on Saturday afternoon in Cape Town (15:00) before the derby in Bloemfontein (17:05).

The Cell C Sharks have won four out of their six matches against the Toyota Cheetahs at the Free State Stadium, which is better than their records in Pretoria (four from 12), Cape Town (five from 12) or Johannesburg (six from ten, including matches against the Cats).

The Vodacom Bulls have a bye this weekend.

Crusaders vs Emirates Lions

The Emirates Lions starting line-up is unchanged from last weekend.

The only changes are on the bench, where new recruit Andries Ferreira, who has played 20 Vodacom Super Rugby matches for the Toyota Cheetahs, could make his franchise debut and Marnitz Boshoff is back.

Robert Kruger and Jaco van der Walt drop out of the match-23.

Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Nemani Nadolo will make their season debuts for the Crusaders. Dan Carter is back from injury and Owen Franks from suspension.

The teams are:

Crusaders: Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Ryan Crotty, Dan Carter, Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Richie McCaw, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili.

Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Sampie Mastriet, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley (captain), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Martin Muller, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee, Corné Fourie. Replacements: Armand van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Dreyer, Andries Ferreira, Derick Minnie, Faf de Klerk, Marnitz Boshoff, Howard Mnisi.

DHL Stormers v Chiefs

The DHL Stormers will start with a new halfback combination in Kurt Coleman and Louis Schreuder, with Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis, who started their first four matches, reverting to the bench.

Kobus van Wyk is back from injury and will start at wing for the first time this season, in the place of Johnny Kotze.

Jean Kleyn replaces the injured Eben Etzebeth at lock and Ruan Botha is on the bench as he’s recovered from mild concussion.

At hooker, Bongi Mbonambi is bracketed with Scarra Ntubeni, while the replacement hooker will be either Ntubeni or Neil Rautenbach.

The teams are:

DHL Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Kurt Coleman, Louis Schreuder, Duane Vermeulen (captain), Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Manuel Carizza, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi / Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni / Neil Rautenbach, Alistair Vermaak, Frans Malherbe, Ruan Botha, Schalk Burger, Nic Groom, Demetri Catrakilis, Huw Jones.

Chiefs: TBC

Toyota Cheetahs vs Cell C Sharks

The Toyota Cheetahs initially selected Tienie Burger to make his starting debut at flank, for Oupa Mohoje, but the former picked up an injury during the week so Mohoje will start his fourth game of the season.

Sarel Pretorius, a late withdrawal last weekend, is back at scrumhalf so Tian Meyer moves back to the bench.

The Toyota Cheetahs have a new centre pairing in Francois Venter, who moves to inside centre, and Johann Sadie at outside centre. Michael van der Spuy misses out this week.

Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow has recovered from concussion and is on bench alongside Clayton Blommetjies, who started at wing in the first round against the Cell C Sharks.

Springbok props Tendai Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis are back for the Cell C Sharks. Thomas du Toit is bracketed with Dale Chadwick on the bench and Matt Stevens is out of the match-23.

At lock, Mouritz Botha returns from injury. Lubabalo Mtyanda or Marco Wentzel will be the lock-replacement.

Willem Alberts has been ruled out because of injury, meaning Renaldo Bothma will start at flank. Tera Mtembu comes into the reserves.

The Cell C Sharks’ backline is unchanged.

The teams are:

Toyota Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Sarel Pretorius, Boom Prinsloo, Jean Cook, Oupa Mohoje, Francois Uys (captain), Carl Wegner, Coenie Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Maks van Dyk, Steven Sykes, Heinrich Brüssow, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Clayton Blommetjies.

Cell C Sharks: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Mouritz Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (captain), Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick / Thomas du Toit, Lourens Adriaanse, Marco Wentzel / Lubabalo Mtyanda, Tera Mtembu, Conrad Hoffmann, André Esterhuizen, Jack Wilson.

Other fixtures (SA kick-off times):

Friday March 13:

08:35: Hurricanes v Blues – Palmerston North

13:00: Force v Rebels – Perth

Saturday March 14:

08:35: Highlanders v Waratahs – Dunedin

10:40: Reds v Brumbies – Brisbane