The Emirates Lions face Italian outfit Benetton Rugby at Stadio Monigo this Saturday in Round 16 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Nineth placed Benetton and eleventh placed Emirates Lions are both fighting for a top 8 finish in the competition, with two rounds remaining after Saturday.

Ivan van Rooyen’s men have momentum on their side after recent wins against Glasgow Warriors and Vodacom Bulls respectively in the competition.

Speaking from Treviso ahead of Saturday, Emirates Lions Scrum Coach Julian Redelinghuys expects a physical encounter combined with an expansive style of play from both sides.

“Benetton are a team that likes to throw the ball around, and we ourselves like to do the same so I think it will be an entertaining match to watch. In saying that, the team that is more accurate and can absorb the pressure will do well,” the former Bok prop cautions.

“Reflecting on our last fixture against them back in South Africa last year, it was probably one of the most physical games and that’s what we look forward to the most, coupled with playing against a quality team with a few internationals potentially coming back.”

“Its going to be a good battle and a really good game for us to see where we’re at as we feel we’ve grown over the past couple of weeks and ultimately what counts is what happens between the four white lines,” he concluded.

The men from Emirates Airline Park remain relatively unchanged from their Round 15 victory over the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria. Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruan Dreyer and Travis Gordon are the only changes (all on the bench). Marius Louw retains the captaincy.

Kick-off is at 15:00 (SA time)

Emirates Lions

1. JP Smith
2. PJ Botha
3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye
4. Willem Alberts
5. Ruben Schoeman
6. Emmanuel Tshituka
7. Ruan Venter
8. Francke Horn
9. Sanele Nohamba
10. Gianni Lombard
11. Edwill van der Merwe
12. Marius Louw (c)
13. Manuel Rass
14. Rabz Maxwane
15. Quan Horn

Replacements
16. Morne Brandon
17. Rhynardt Rijnsburger
18. Ruan Dreyer
19. Reinhard Nothnagel
20. Travis Gordon
21. Morne van den Berg
22. Rynhardt Jonker
23. Andries Coetzee