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Key figures cleared as Lions brace for historic play-off

By Leezil Hendricks
Friday 29 May 2026

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has left no stone unturned as he named his strongest possible side for his team’s first United Rugby Championship quarterfinal.

Rooyen’s men come up against Irish giants Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin – a team they faced three weeks ago in the round-robin stages at the same venue.

The Lions enter Saturday’s quarterfinal with a settled 23 after injury concerns threatened stability last week.

However, those concerns have been overcome. Skipper Francke Horne and centre Henco van Wyk have been cleared and are fit to face Leo Cullen’s Leinster.

Scrumhalf Nico Steyn starts in place of the injured Morne van den Berg, who is recovering from a bicep injury, while Erich Cronje returns to the left wing after missing out against Munster.

Experienced hooker Franco Marais returns to the fold as an impact player alongside Rynhardt Jonker and Haashim Pead.

There is also a big milestone for Blitzbok star JC Pretorius, who will make his 50th appearance for the Lions.

Chris Smith will also be gunning for the top point-scorer spot. The flyhalf is currently second with 154 points, just four points behind Stormers’ Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horne (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Rynhard Jonker, 23 Haashim Pead.

Date: Saturday, May 30
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT; 21.00 SAST)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Key figures cleared as Lions brace for historic play-off

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