Lions stick with tried and tested

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ruan Venter will run out in his 50th game for the Lions in one of their sternest tests to date.

The Johannesburg-based franchise faces the Glasgow Warriors in a United Rugby Championship Round 14 encounter at the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

The Lions’ coaching staff made one change on the replacements bench, with Rynhardt Jonker coming in for Henco van Wyk.

The explosive centre, Van Wyk, suffered a foot injury during last weekend’s loss to Cardiff.

The Lions face a daunting challenge against the second-placed Glasgow Warriors to prevent a third consecutive defeat after their heart-breaking 17-20 loss against Cardiff last week in a match they could well have won.

While a victory for the Lions will ensure that they are in a realistic position to finish the pool stages in the top eight, a victory for the home team will see them remain in second place in the standings.

The defending champions are aiming to cement their place in the top two on the log.

Players who were not considered due to injury include Reinhard Nothnagel, Etienne Oosthuizen, Morne van den Berg, Erich Cronje, Henco van Wyk, Rabz Maxwane, Morne Brandon and Raynard Roets.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Jarod Cairns, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Date: Saturday, March 29
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19.35 (21.35 SAST; 19.35 GMT)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Fin Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)