Lions to unleash the 'Bone Collector' against Ulster

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made five changes to his starting team for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Round Five clash against Ulster in Johannesburg.

Four of those changes are in the pack and the most notable one is the inclusion of Springbok forward Willem Alberts.

The 38-year-old, who is known as the ‘Bone Collector’ because of the bone-crunching tackles produced in his prime, comes in to replace Pieter Jansen van Vuren in the second row.

In the back row, Emmanuel Tshituka gets a start ahead of Sibusiso Sangweni.

The other changes are in the front row where Jaco Visagie and Jean-Pierre Smith are preferred to Pieter Botha and Sithembiso Sithole.

Van Vuren, Sangweni, Botha and Sithole all drop down to the bench.

There is one change in the backline with Edwill van der Merwe returning after he recovered from a concussion. He replaces Stean Pienaar on the bench.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Zander du Plessis.

Date: Saturday, October 15
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 14.00 (13.00 UK & Ireland time; 12.00 GMT)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Blain (Scotland)

The Bone Collector returns for the Emirates Lions to take on Ulster at Emirates Airline Park.

🆚 @UlsterRugby
🏆: @URCOfficial_RSA
🗓️: Saturday, 15 October
⏰ :14:00
🏟️: Emirates Airline Park
🎟️ : https://t.co/g8yBee2jTF#LionsPride@vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/4Eht9jg5p8

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) October 13, 2022