Lions change their playmaker for top-of-the-table clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Leinster in Dublin.

In the backline, Kade Wolhuter starts at No.10 after joining the squad on tour last week.

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There will also be a new centre pairing with Rynhardt Jonker coming in to partner Henco van Wyk.

Marius Louw, who started at inside centre against Zebre last weekend, will play off the bench.

In the pack, Asenathi Ntlabakanye returns to tighthead after recovering from a concussion he suffered against Dragons two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, PJ Botha gets the No.2 jersey this week.

The Lions and Leinster are the only two unbeaten sides in the competition.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Erich Cronje.

Date: Saturday, October 26
Venue: Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Kick-off: 17.15 (18.15 SAST; 16.15 GMT)
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) and Rhys Jones (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)