Lions to rely on Junior Bok for Stormers
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions’ head coach Ivan van Rooyen has announced a strong line-up for their Round 12 United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers at Ellis Park.
Fresh from a 34-22 bonus point win over the Sharks last Saturday, the Johannesburg side head into the Origin round in seventh place on the standings, with a string of home games on the calendar before travelling to Ireland for the final two games of the regular season.
Junior Springbok Batho Hlekani enters the frame in the place of Springbok Ruan Venter, who misses out due to a head injury suffered against the Durbanites last weekend.
The Graeme College old boy Hlekani features in a formidable back row consisting of skipper Francke Horn and last week’s debutant Siba Mahashe.
The team will be without Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Haashim Pead.
Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum ahead of this highly anticipated local derby.
“We’ve had a good week training,” said the former Bok centre, but was cautious to point out that a job still needed to be done on Saturday.
“We haven’t won anything, so we have to make sure we use the momentum and home ground advantage on Saturday. We must be up for it because we know the Stormers are coming here desperate, especially after their two previous results against the Sharks,” he concluded.
Elsewhere, scrumhalf Nico Steyn provides cover at scrumhalf and flyhalf, while Westville Boys High old boy Siba Qoma returns from injury to offer impact when called upon.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Erich Cronjé.
Date: Saturday, February 28
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa) & Stephen Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
