Pead headlines Lions team for Currie Cup semifinal
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has revealed his team for Sunday’s Currie Cup semifinal against Griquas in Kimberley.
Ruan Delport returns at lock and leads the side after returning from suspension.
Delport last played against the Bulls XV in Round Three of the competition but featured for the Lions against the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Also included is scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who will be tasked with marshalling the backline in partnership with Matt Coetzee.
In their last visit to the Diamond City almost a month ago, the Joburgers went down 19-31 in Round Four of the competition, but Sunday presents a different challenge for Nkosi’s next generation of Lions.
“It’s going to require us to roll up our sleeves,” expressed Nkosi.
“Griquas are a big challenge for us. They have shown this season that they are the team to beat. They are top of the log by some distance, so we are alive to the challenge that we have ahead of us, exacerbated by the fact we have to play away,” he pointed out.
Nkosi acknowledged the fact that his side wear the underdog tag going into the semifinals, especially with previous results at the same venue.
“We are definitely underdogs. We didn’t give a good account of ourselves last time we were there, so come Sunday we need to give ourselves an opportunity to win the game,” he concluded.
Lions: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keagan Smith, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Latica Nela, 10 Matt Coetzee, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 Ruan Delport (captain), 4 Siba Qoma, 3 Ruan Swart, 2 Armand Combrinck, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Siya Dube, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 JD Hattingh, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Exauce Kevani, 23 Luke Cannon.
Date: Sunday, September 6
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Kick-off: 13.00 SAST (11.00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Dylen November
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
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