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Rugby

Dobela to start against Zimbabwe

───   MORGAN PIEK 16:04 Thu, 23 May 2019

Dobela to start against Zimbabwe | News Article
Lubabalo Dobela - Morgan Piek

The Toyota Free State XV have a tricky outing in the round five of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge this week when they face the Zimbabwe Academy side in Cape Town on Saturday.


The coach Izak van der Westhuizen has once again rung the changes, and there are not less than seven changes to the starting XV alone.

The fullback, Tapiwe Mafura, returns are missing out last week and he replaces Adriaan Carelse in the number 15 jersey. The regular flyhalf, Ernst Stapelberg, moves across to inside centre for the match in the place of Marlou van Niekerk.

This season Lubabalo Dobela earn a rare start in the Free State colours, he will be in change or marshalling the backline. He we form the halfback combination with Dian Badenhorst who will start at scrumhalf.

Up front, Janus Venter, who scored a try last week will start at hooker in the place of the regular captain, Elandré Huggett, who misses out on the trip to the Mother City due to illness. Luyolo Dapula who was a late withdrawal last week comes back into the second for the match. Niell Jordaan will start at flank for the match, after recently playing off of the bench.

Among the replacements, the Guinness Pro14 hooker, Jacques du Toit, has been named on the bench as he makes his return following a long-term injury lay-off. The prop, Günther Janse van Vuuren, also makes his return from an injury.

Free State has started gartering momentum following solid wins over the EP Elephants and SWD Eagles in the past two weeks, and this something that they want to build on.

Zimbabwe has not managed a win yet, however, they have proven to be a side that can pose a serious threat and are eager to play. Last week’s hat-trick hero and this weeks’ captain, Jasper Wiese, told OFM Sport that they are still a dangerous unit.

“It’s a tough one because we have never played against them before, but it is going to be a new and exciting challenge for us.

“We have to play to our strengths. We have to win out set-pieces and focus on our game. I do think that they play very exciting rugby.

“They actually haven’t played bad rugby against any of the teams they have come up against. I think that they were just unlucky against Western Province and SWD, so they are definitely not a team to be underestimated.

“It is very important for us to take a win from this one in order to keep our play-offs chances alive.”

Saturday’s game at the False Bay Rugby Club kicks off at 16:00. At the same time the Welwitschias tackle the Leopards in Windhoek, while at 15:00 the Pumas host the Tafel Larger Griquas in Nelspruit.

Toyota Free State XV - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 Carel Jan Coetzee, 12 Ernst Stapelberg, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Dian Badenhosrt, 8 Jasper Wiese (captain), 7 Niell Jordaan, 6 Otsile Ranthako, 5 Keanan Murray, 4 Luyolo Dapula, 3 Erich de Jager, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Quintin Vorster.

Replacements - 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Günther Janse van Vuuren, 18 Bertie de Bod, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Ruan Smit, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Adriaan Carelse.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport

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