JOHANNESBURG – There will be butterflies aplenty in the change-rooms of the Lions and Reds at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
Not only are five points on offer for a bonus-point win in this fourth round Super Rugby tie, but for Lions players, rookie Madosh Tambwe and “almost-veteran” Franco Mostert, dreams will become reality.
Tambwe, born in Kinshasa and schooled at Parktown Boys High – he was actually in matric last year still – Saturday’s match presents him with an opportunity to make a real impression ahead of the selection of the SA U-20 squad for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in May and June.
Lions boss Johan Ackermann is predicting big things from the 19-year-old and with him coming up against such destructive runners such as Samu Kerevi and Karmichael Hunt and the always tricky Quade Cooper of the Reds it is the perfect test of the young man’s abilities and readiness to step up to the big time.
Of course while Tambwe is on debut his team-mate Mostert will be celebrating playing 50 Super Rugby matches for the Lions. After sitting out last weekend when his team came unstuck against the Jaguares in Beunos Aires, he’ll be keen to deliver a big performance.
Ackermann said the 26-year-old was like a “jumping ball” this week, so excited was he to get stuck into the Reds.
“I’m so proud of where he is in his career,” said Ackermann. “Franco’s come a long way. I remember watching him playing Varsity Cup rugby for Tuks and I remember him arriving here from other side the Jukskei.
“He’s worked so hard to be where he is, especially after he broke his hip in that car accident in 2013,” said a proud Ackermann. “He’s a great character and a real energiser of the team, he gets that pack fired up.
“It’s a great day for him and I’m sure he’ll enjoy it, but he’ll be the first to tell you it’s not about him, but about the team.”
The Lions, indeed, need a big team effort if they’re going to hit back and win after the disaster of going down to the Jaguares last weekend. Ackermann’s men never got into the game in Buenos Aires, were ill-disciplined and looked well below standard.
But they’re at full-strength this weekend, with several first choice players back in the fold and with an expected big home crowd behind them they simply have to register a victory. The Reds though will be no pushovers and as Ackermann pointed out in the week they could easily be three wins from three. They lost narrowly to the Western Force and Crusaders, while beating the Sharks in round one.
Lions team: Andries Coetzee, Madosh Tambwe, Lionel Mapoe, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (capt), Ruan Ackermann, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Dylan Smith, Johannes Jonker, Lourens Erasmus, Kwagga Smith, Ross Cronje, Jaco van der Walt, Harold Vorster
Reds: Karmichael Hunt, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Eto Nabuli, Quade Cooper, Nick Frisby, Scott Higginbotham, George Smith, Hendrik Tui, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Sam Talakai, Andrew Ready, James Slipper (capt). Replacements: Stephen Moore, Markus Vanzati, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Tui, Adam Korczyk, James Tuttle, Jake McIntyre, Chris Kuridrani
Kickoff: 5.15pm
Referee: Mike Fraser (Aus)