Cash reaching for panic button?

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made several changes to his struggling team ahead of their United Rugby Championship Round 16 face-off with Irish province Connacht.

The Lions, despite loud protestations from within the camp, have no more than a mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs.

They also rely on the goodwill of other teams.

The most significant selection – or non selection – is the absence of Springbok loose forward Ruan Venter, who was involved in a very public mid-match spat with teammate Darrien Landsberg in the loss to Benetton last week.

That ‘disagreement’ spilt over into a team meeting this week.

Venter was belatedly named on the injury list.

Further enquiries said he picked up a ‘knee niggle’, with no clarification of the extent.

Landsberg has been dropped to the replacement bench.

Van Rooyen has named a loose trio that features Jarod Cairns for the injured Francke Horn, who sustained a knee injury in the Round 15 loss, forcing him off the field during the first half.

The explosive Renzo du Plessis secures a starting berth, with star poacher JC Pretorius completing the back row.

Bronson Mills makes his Lions URC debut in a new midfield combination, with returning Henco van Wyk his centre partner.

Also included on the right wing is Richard Kriel, who missed out last week against Benetton due to a niggle picked at training.

Jaco Visagie leads the Lions in place of regular captain Horn.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

Date: Saturday, April 26
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 16.00 (15.00 Irish time; 14.00 GMT)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Hanru Van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)