Bulls vs Lions: Currie Cup semi-final Live updates – 23 January 2021

Bulls vs Lions: The Bulls host the Lions in the first Currie Cup semi-final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria from 14:00 (SAST).

Bulls vs Lions: Currie Cup Semi-final preview

The Bulls will look to Duane Vermeulen and Morne Steyn to produce championship-worthy performances as the leaders of their respective divisions.

The Lions must strive to match or better the Bulls scrum to give their backs a chance to influence the match.

The battle at the breakdown will be equally crucial where Vermeulen’s presence ensures the Lions loose forwards will need to be both quick and physical. Marco van Staden and Jaco Kriel will duel to determine who is Gauteng’s best jackal.

In the scrums Bulls prop Lizo Gqoboka faces a test of his power and guile in Lions veteran Jannie du Plessis while Sti Sithole must prove himself against Springbok Trevor Nyakane.

While the Lions have a reputation for sporting exciting outside backs the Bulls have some real talent out wide and at the back. Stedman Gans could create oppurtunities for Kurt-Lee Arendse, David Kriel and Strevino Jacobs to hurt the Lions.

The battle of the boots could prove key with Tiaan Swanepoel showing that he can pop them over from 60 + metres, Steyn doesn’t quite have the same range but will be eager to prove he can handle pressure situations.

Bulls vs Lions: Currie Cup semi-final Live updates

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Teams

Bulls – 15 David Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.

Subs: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jan Uys, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marco Jansen van Vuren.

Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (c), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.

Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Francke Horn, 24 Nathan McBeth, 25 EW Viljoen, 26 Ross Cronje.

Bulls vs Lions match information

Date: Saturday, 23 January 2021

Time: 14:00

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs and Griffin Colby

TMO: Marius Jonker

TV: SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby