OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME
EMIRATES LIONS vs BNZ CRUSADERS
Saturday 23 July 2016 16:30
QUARTER-FINAL
CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
5
ACTION COLLAGE
7
VODACOM MESSAGE
9
ALL GLRU TEAMS EMULATE RUNNING STYLE
11
SUPER RUGBY TEAMS 14 CLUB TEAMS
17
FREEZE FRAME ACTION
19
FREEZE FRAME ACTION
21
FIXTURES AND RESULTS 23
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES
OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME
EMIRATES LIONS vs Cell C Sharks
Saturday 2 July 2016 17:10
Publishers: Rugbyvaria Editor: Annemie Bester Graphic Design: Reneé Naudé
Advertising: Annemie Bester
GLRU Media and PR Manager: Annemie Bester Photographer: Deon van der Merwe Website: lionsrugby.co.za
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE • 5 www.lionsrugby.co.za
WELCOME TO EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK, HOME OF THE EMIRATES LIONS WELCOME ALL TO the quarter-final of the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby competition. We wish to particularly welcome our counterparts from the BNZ Crusaders, captain Kieran Read and his fellow players, as well the management and coaching staff. Welcome also to Johan Ackerman/Swys de Bruin and our captain Warren Whiteley as well as our coaching staff and most valued players. This quarter-final is the culmination of a most successful season at Lions Rugby, and most deservedly so. We all applaud everyone involved in the bringing about of this great season in Lions Rugby. The table is undoubtedly set for a match of epic proportions. Both teams display an exciting running game of total rugby and this one will be no different. We trust that
you will all enjoy this match and we thank you for your loyal support. We give thanks to our most valued Sponsors and welcome you here today. We also welcome Altmann Ahlers and Rudolf Straeuli as well as all other dignitaries here this afternoon. This match is our first quarter-final since 1993 which ranks this Lions side as one of the best we have seen. Good luck to Johan and our team – and as I have stated before, we are busy rewriting the history books in Lions Rugby. Please remember to visit our website www.lionsrugby.co.za for all your Lions rugby news. Enjoy the day with us. Kevin de Klerk. President: GLRU
Photos by Deon van der Merwe
VODACOM MESSAGE • 9 www.lionsrugby.co.za
EMIRATES LIONS
BREAKING NEW GROUND AFRICA 2 CONFERENCE winners Emirates Lions play host to one of the Vodacom Super Rugby playoffs following an impressive 2016 campaign. We can expect an appetising encounter as the second-ranked Lions face seventime champions, Crusaders at Emirates Airline Park. The Johannesburg franchise epitomises the new-found rigour in South African rugby in the first year of the extended tournament. The lean years seem to be a thing of the past as the South African teams produced effervescent performances week after week. As proud sponsor of Super Rugby, Vodacom is excited about South Africa’s chances of once again yielding a Vodacom Super Rugby champion. Surpassing their previous record of
victories in one season serves as evidence of the team’s appetite to break new ground. The team has built a winning culture proving it is possible to play an enticing brand of rugby and win on the scoreboard. South Africa’s best network Vodacom has been one of the biggest supporters of our country’s franchises and will continue to back SA’s teams. Vodacom would like all rugby supporters to rally behind our teams in the knockout stages as they go into battle for the Vodacom Super Rugby title. Send your messages of support using #AllOutRugby and follow the action @vodacomrugga Melanie Forbes Managing Executive: CBU Gauteng Vodacom
www.lionsrugby.co.za
Photo: SA Rugbymag
ALL GLRU TEAMS EMULATE EMIRATES LIONS RUNNING STYLE By Annemie Bester and Wim van der Berg IT ISN’T ONLY the Emirate Lions that have grabbed attention and won friends with their running rugby and resultant many tries. It has become a style that is now common to all sides fielded by the Golden Lions Rugby Union. The Golden Lions XV, playing in the qualifying series for the Currie Cup, is the side with easily the most tries and points to its credit after 13 of the 14 scheduled matches (as at last Saturday July 16). The play their last scheduled match this afternoon against Boland at Grabouw, just before the Emirates Lions’ quarterfinal kick-off at Emirates Airline Park.
The Emirate Lions, of course, together with the other five Super Rugby franchises, automatically qualify for the Currie Cup competition. The leading three non-franchise unions will join the six franchise-linked teams for a single round, based on match at home and one away. The Premier Division kicks off on the weekend of August 5 and 6. On July 16 the Golden Lions XV, stripped of a number of their regular players who were doing duty for the Super Rugby team against the Jaguares, had to include
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a number of U21s in the team for the match against the SWD Eagles, which the Lions won 35-29. To date the Golden Lions XV have scored 80 tries in their 13 matches in the qualification series, well ahead of the Griffons (67) and the Blue Bulls (65). The Lions aggregate is 570 points, with Western Province’s 477 the second best.
• 13
Manager of High Performance, must be mentioned. Tinus Diedericks, chairman of the Golden Lions High Schools Rugby Association and Chris Schutte of the Primary Schools and their respective coaching staff also deserve mention and appreciation for their hard work.
The GLRU’s U12 side is ranked in the top three in the country and the U13 A side is ranked in the top four after the Craven Week.
“We are excited to see that our juniors are playing the same exciting brand of winning rugby as the senior sides and that they are enjoying it. We are working hard to ensure that all our teams, on all levels, from management to coaches, are equipped to be a successful Lions outfit. Lions play Lions way,” said Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the GLRU.
The Lions U16 Grant Khomo side is rated in the top four and the U16 B and C sides were unbeaten at their respective tournaments.
Kevin de Klerk, president of the Golden Lions, said he had the pleasure to attend this year’s U18 Craven Week at Kearsney College.
The Under 18 Academy side is also ranked in the top four, and the U18 the Craven Week side played and narrowly (20-27) lost to Western Province in the unofficial final last Saturday. The U19 Welpie (schools) team is ranked in the top two.
“It was really a wonderful privilege to see how well our Lions sides played at this tournament. Some amazing talent was on display and it made me immensely proud to watch our sides perform so well.
This is a testament of hard work behind the scenes where the names of Pieter Visser, Manager of Amateur Rugby at the GLRU, Timmy Goodwin, Manager of Development as well as Bart Schoeman,
“I applaud our coaches, medical staff and all assistant staff for their excellent input, which has put us among the top of all our different categories. On average we are the top Union with all our teams across the board,” De Klerk said.
But it is not only at senior level where the Lions sides excel.
EMIRATES LIONS
15 Andries Coetzee 14 Ruan Combrinck 13 Lionel Mapoe 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 11 Courtnall Skosan 10 Elton Jantjies 9 Faf de Klerk 8 Warren Whiteley (capt.) 7 Warwick Tecklenburg 6 Jaco Kriel 5 Franco Mostert 4 Andries Ferreira 3 Julian Redelinghuys 2 Malcolm Marx 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements:
16 Armand van der Merwe 17 Corné Fourie 18 Jacques van Rooyen 19 Ruan Ackermann 20 Cyle Brink 21 Ross Cronjé 22 Howard Mnisi 23 Jaco van der Walt/Sylvian Mahuza Coaches: Johan Ackermann (Head Coach) Swys de Bruin (Assistent Coach) JP Ferreira (Assistant Coach) 23 JULY 2016 Referee: Craig Joubert
AR1: Marius van der Westhuizen
BNZ CRUSADERS
15 Israel Dagg 14 Johnny McNicholl 13 Ryan Crotty 12 David Havili 11 Jone Macilai 10 Richie Mo’unga 9 Andy Ellis 8 Kieran Read (capt.) 7 Matt Todd 6 Jordan Taufua 5 Sam Whitelock 4 Luke Romano 3 Owen Franks 2 Codie Taylor 1 Wyatt Crockett
Replacements:
16 Ben Funnell 17 Alex Hodgman 18 Mike Alaalatoa 19 Scott Barrett 20 Jimmy Tupou 21 Mitchell Drummond 22 Ben Volavola 23 Kieron Fonotia Head Coach: Todd Blackadder
KICK-OFF: 16:30 AR2: Rasti Rasivhenge
TMO: Marius Jonker
PRESIDENTS LEAGUE FINAL
KICK-OFF: 13:30 JABULANI
SOUTHERN KNIGHTS
15 Hlanganani Shezi 14 Siyabonga Zwane 13 Jabulani Hlabangani 12 Gabriel Maluleka 11 Makhosonke Mlangeni 10 Akhona Tsharane (v-capt.) 9 Ayanda Ngamlana 8 Babalwa Gabuza 7 Xhadi Makalima 6 Nicholas Kubheka 5 Sivuyile Xaba 4 Nhlanhla Maduna (capt.) 3 Zuko Mamba 2 Siyabonga Mkhize 1 Bongani Buthelezi
15 Ruan van Staden 14 S’Thembiso Msimango 13 Luvo Piliso 12 Anton Grobbelaar 11 Poloko Diphoko 10 Jeraldo Koopman (capt.) 9 Keree Makhubu 8 Dewald Delport 7 Lindsay Maxwell 6 Siyasanga Sizani 5 Tshepo Msimang 4 Sheldon Stighling 3 Allistaire Loff 2 Anton Potgieter (v-capt.) 1 Comfort Mahlangu
Replacements: 16 Themba Nkosi 17 Robert Mavimbela 18 Mandla Nkosi 19 Ntando Mabaso 20 Sandile Mkhize 21 Dillen Felix 22 Tshepo Kgwele
Replacements: 16 Evan van Huyssteen 17 Ponty Motloung 18 Richard Maepheli 19 Karabo Monyserala 20 Adrian Karelse 21 Blaize Felix 22 Themba Sikhosana
COACHES Thando Mhlongo Siphiwe Ngwane
COACHES R Koopman H Masangu
Referee: Charel Niemand www.lionsrugby.co.za
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Photo by GB Jordaan
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EMIRATES LIONS SUPER RUGBY
FIXTURES AND RESULTS 2016 FEBRUARY 27
Sunwolves vs Emirates Lions 13–26
Tokyo
MARCH 5 12 19
Chiefs vs Emirates Lions 32–36 Highlanders vs Emirates Lions 34–15 Emirates Lions vs Toyota Cheetahs 39–22
Hamilton Dunedin Emirates Airline Park
APRIL 1 9 16 23 30
Emirates Lions vs BNZ Crusaders 37–43 Sharks vs Emirates Lions 9-24 Emirates Lions vs DHL Stormers 29–22 Southern Kings vs Emirates Lions 10–45 Emirates Lions vs Hurricanes 17–50
Emirates Airline Park Kings Park Emirates Airline Park Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Emirates Airline Park
MAY 14 21 28
Emirates Lions vs Blues 43-5 Emirates Lions vs Jaguares 56-20 Vodacom Bulls vs Emirates Lions 24-52
Emirates Airline Park Emirates Airline Park Loftus Versfeld
JULY 2
Emirates Lions vs Sharks 37-10
Emirates Airline Park
8
Emirates Lions vs Southern Kings 57-21
Emirates Airline Park
16
Jaguares vs Emirates Lions 22-34
Buenos Aires
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