Promising Springbok returns to Lions line-up

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions take on French outfit Montpellier in Round Three of the Challenge Cup at the Stade de la Mosson this Saturday.

Currently fourth in Pool 2, a victory for Ivan van Rooyen’s charges on Saturday will be a welcome result ahead of their clash with Dragons at Ellis Park next week Saturday.

The Lions mentor has backed exciting youngster Kelly Mpeku who debuts on the right wing for the men in red and white. The former King Edward VII School pupil comes off a stellar Currie Cup campaign and will be hoping to produce the same form which propelled him to international club honours.

In other team news, the side from Johannesburg will be relying on a formidable loose-trio comprising of WJ Steenkamp, Izan Esterhuizen and the experienced Francke Horn for go forward. At the back, Springbok fullback Quan Horn returns from injury with fellow international Edwill van der Merwe on the left wing.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s mouth-watering encounter, Lions’ scrum guru Julian Redelinghuys emphasised the need for his side to revert back to their DNA, with less emphasis on the opposition.

“For us it is about getting back to our identity. How we want to play,” said the former Springbok prop.

“The focus has just been on us. We haven’t looked at Montpellier, only in the last two days,” explained Redelinghuys.

Conditions will play a pivotal role for this Round 3 clash with a moderate breeze expected close to kick-off. Redelinghuys says, despite the conditions the aim is always to play bold, positive rugby,

“For us, balancing the Lions way works really well if it’s dry – if it’s lekker conditions, then we can let the ball fly.

“But if we are playing in the wet, we don’t want to become conservative, and sometimes we feel we do become conservative.

“And for us to still play dynamic (rugby), obviously we got to change a couple of strategic plans, but still be dynamic and still to play to enjoy, still to attack and guys to express themselves.”

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

Date: Saturday, January 11
Venue: Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Kick-off: 18.30 (17.30 GMT; 19.30 SA time)
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wales)