Lions limping towards Newlands showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has been forced into making several changes ahead of his team’s Round 12 Currie Cup showdown with Western Province at Newlands on Wednesday.
Following injuries suffered in the 44-all draw to the Cheetahs last Wednesday and the 21-48 loss to the Bulls at the weekend will see a much-changed team travel to Cape Town.
Veteran Springbok Jannie du Plessis, fellow tighthead prop Carlu Sadie and flank Mark Snyman have all been sidelined.
Adding to the team’s front row woes is the absence of Springbok Ruan Dreyer, who is on ‘dad duty’ after the birth of his twins.
Unheralded Chergin Fillies will start at tighthead prop.
Former South African Under-20 prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye will provide cover off the bench.
MJ Pelser also returns to the starting XV, on the flank.
Burger Odendaal will again captain the side from the centre.
Emmanuel Tshituka and Morne Brandon are both additions to the replacement bench.
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Travis Gordon, 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Peter-John Steenkamp, 3 Chergin Fillies, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Emmanuel Tshituka, 20 Mandisi Mthiyane, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Manuel Rass.
Date: Wednesday, August 18
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Quinton Immelman
