Will Roodepoort succeed this time?

2019-03-08

Roodepoort, the pride of Lions rugby, will want improve on their performance in this year's Gold Cup when they meet their opponents from the 2014 Community Cup final - Rustenburg Impala - at Ruimsig on Saturday.

The ëPoorte lost 13-11 in a closely contested final in George that year and it is expected that Saturday's game will be another close encounter.

It is the only time that a club from the Lions has advanced to the final of the competition in the new format.

There is only one survivor from that final in the Roodepoort side - reserve scrumhalf Andre Esterhuizen - who started on the day.

Rustenburg Impala has no fewer than five members from their 2014 winning campaign - locks Henro Huyser and Tiaan Nel, eighth man Leon du Plessis, centre McDonald Duma and winger Dumi Matyeshana.

Both teams are ready for Saturday's match, which is arguably the most important game of the round robin for both teams. Roodepoort have bolstered their squad with a number of names, with former Lions centre Stokkies Hanekom being their headline star.

The former Griquas and Wits wing - Lux Ntsepe - will provide the X factor, knowing he is playing alongside the powerful Roodepoort forward pack.

This is a game that will be won or lost in the forward collisions, and Pieter Matthews and company knows that the responsibility rests on their shoulders.

Impala's side includes the brilliant number eight Leon du Plessis, who is playing in his fifth Gold (or Community) Cup. The battle between him and the up-and-coming Ruan du Toit will be one you don't want to miss. The game starts at approximately 15:00.

The teams

Roodepoort: Lux Ntsepe, Ashley van Wyk, Stokkies Hanekom, Cisko du Toit, Louis Trichardt, Wesley Roberts, Brandan Rieck, Ruan du Toit, Cliffie Vermaak, Wesley Pretorius, Marnus Coetzee, Pieter Matthews, Calla van Heerden, Hennie Mare, Zander Schlemmer. Reserves: Quinton Pretorius, Jakes Qinela, Ian Pottas, Griffith van Wyk, Carl Mellett, Migael du Plessis, Spyker Esterhuizen, Rodney Robinson.

Impala: Andre Grobler, Dewaldt Havenga, McDonald Duma, Justin St Jerry, Dumisani Matyeshana, Siya Masuku, Ethan Sias, Leon du Plessis, Justin Wheeler, Tiaan Prinsloo, Tiaan Nel, Henro Huyser, Ivann Espag, Nico Peyper, Andre Engelbrecht. Reserves: Brandon de Beer, Andre Olivier, Isak Deetlefs, JP la Grange, Nico Kruger, Johnny Welthagen, Xolani Nkosi, Jaco Botha.

This weekend's Gold Cup fixtures:

• Roodepoort vs. Impala
• Springs vs. Swallows
• College Rovers vs. ERU
• Naka Bulle vs. Sishen
• Worcester vs. Northam
• Gardens vs. Secunda
• Progress vs. Durbell
• Welkom vs. Bloemfontein Police