The Emirates Lions face a tricky assignment in Buenos Aires on Saturday against the rugged Jaguares in their quest to finish in the overall top spot of the Vodacom Super Rugby standings.<\/p>\n
The match is the last of the weekend\u2019s fixtures and kicks off at 11.40pm SA time.<\/p>\n
As things currently stand, the Highvelders are one point in front of the Chiefs, who are leading a pack of New Zealand sides still in contention for places in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
A bonus point win will guarantee the Lions (52 points) first spot on the overall log and with that the privilege of home ground advantage throughout the playoffs.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs (51) could make a move for the overall top position with a bonus-point over the Highlanders, however, the Johannesburg side have a far stronger point difference in the event of both teams finish on the same amount of league points.<\/p>\n
Despite this Lions coach Johan Ackermann decided to rest his first-choice team for the trip to Argentina so he will have fresh legs for the next phase of the tournament.<\/p>\n
Scrumhalf Ross Cronje will now captain the side and the experienced centre Howard Mnisi is his deputy. Ackermann named a provisional bench with two extra players and he will make his final match-day selection before the weekend.<\/p>\n
There were 76 points scored the only time these teams met in Super Rugby with the Emirates Lions coming away 52-24 victors. The Jaguares have led at halftime in four of their last seven games, though they\u2019ve gone on to win only twice.<\/p>\n
The Johannesburg team have won their last five games, a sixth straight win would be their longest streak in competition history.<\/p>\n
Stand-in skipper Jaco Kriel (47) has beaten the most defenders of any forward this season, and the fifth most overall.<\/p>\n
Teams: Jaguares: 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Ramiro Herrera; 4.Guido Petty, 5 Tom\u00e1s Lavanini; 6.Javier Ortega Desio 7 Juan M Leguizam\u00f3n, 8 Facundo Isa; 9 Mart\u00edn Landajo, 10 Nicol\u00e1s S\u00e1nchez, 11 Manuel Montero, 12 J Juan Martin Hernandez , 13.Jer\u00f3nimo de la Fuente , 14 Santiago Cordero; 15 Joaqu\u00edn Tuculet.
\nReplacements : 16 Facudo Bosch, 17 Santiago Garc\u00eda Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Mattias Alemanno, 20.Marcos Kremer , 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22.Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23.Mattias Orlando<\/p>\n
Emirates Lions: 15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Koch Marx, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Cyle Brink, 7 Robert Kruger, 6 Stef de Witt, 5 Lourens Erasmus, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Corn\u00e9 Fourie.
\nReplacements (two to be omitted): 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Clinton Theron, 18 Pieter Scholtz, 19 Fabian Booysen, 20 Ruaan Lerm, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Shaun Reynolds, 24 Bobby de Wee, 25 Ashlon Davids.<\/p>\n
Referee: Rohan Hoffman
\nAssistant referees: Angus Gardner, Federico Anselmi
\nTMO: Santiago Borsani<\/p>\n