Injury forced Lions to tweak pack for Sharks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face the Sharks on Saturday at Ellis Park.
Lions lock Pieter Jansen van Vuren makes a return to the match 23 this Saturday.
He makes an appearance in the starting lineup after being sidelined due to injury during the team’s tour to the UK.
Also featuring in the number seven jumper on Saturday is Ruhan Straeuli who comes in for the injured Vincent Tshituka.
“We are pleased to have Pieter back,” Van Rooyen said, adding: “He was great for us on tour before injury halted his momentum.
“He’s trained really well over the past few weeks, and he is eager to get stuck again.”
#ICYMI: @LionsRugbyCo‘s backline, attack and skills coach Ricardo Loubscher speaks to @king365ed
about the visit of the @Springboks-laden @SharksRugby
#URC #EllisPark #Rugby #RugbyUnion@URCOfficial
#LIOvSHA https://t.co/FrxlVWBe6U— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) January 20, 2022
Van Rooyen backed his loose trio to provide his side with the necessary go forward attitude against the visitors.
“It’s unfortunate to lose Vincent due to an injury setback, but the opportunity now presents itself for Ruhan to come in and do the job for us in concert with Jaco Kriel and Francke Horn, “ he concluded.
The Lions’ last URC match was against the Stormers where they recorded an away win over the Cape Town side.
Commenting on the URC’s resumptions: “It’s great to be back for URC action especially on our home turf at Ellis Park.
“It’ll be our first URC fixture at home since the campaign started so we’re pretty excited about that.”
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain,) 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Matt More, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel
Date: Saturday, January 22
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge & Aimee Barrett-Theron
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
