Lions v Munster - Teams and Prediction
ROUND SEVEN RESCHEDULED: The Lions will have their work cut out for them when they host Irish giants Munster at Ellis Park on Saturday.
From a narrow defeat to the Bulls, Munster will want to bounce back and put in a solid shift against the Gauteng franchise.
The visitors boast eight wins in 12 matches to date and are third on the overall United Rugby Championship log.
For the Lions, a win over the Munster will serve as a major boost.
Ivan van Rooyen’s men have had a string of disappointing results at the start of the season.
However, they are starting to hit their straps and recorded a much-needed win over Cardiff last weekend.
Van Rooyen was forced to make one change to the winning side with Springbok Jaco Kriel sidelined due to an injury.
Kriel, who suffered an injury in the 51st minute last Sunday, is the only change to the starting XV.
“Jaco Kriel was operated on Thursday,” Van Rooyen told reporters.
“He will be out for three to four months which means he will miss the rest of the season.”
Inside centre, Burger Odendaal takes over the captaincy in the absence of Kriel.
Shifting his focus to their upcoming fixture against Munster, Van Rooyen has urged his side to deliver an 80-minute performance.
“Munster is currently one of the two top teams in the league,” Van Rooyen said.
“The Irish are usually fit and can play for 80 minutes and their skillset are probably the best in the competition.
“Munster also have a nice South African flavour to them, in terms of [head coach Johann van Graan and defence coach JP Ferreira], so it is a good challenge for us.
“And we have to be spot-on for 80 minutes.”
The big talking point is the sight of Springbok World Cup-winning centre Damian de Allende in the Munster starting XV.
“He is a quality player and he knows what we are about.
“I think it is our job to put him under pressure,”
Captain Odendaal added: “De Allende made a massive difference when he came off the bench against the Bulls game.
“It is a bit of a different challenge because we know he likes to get over the gainline and keep defenders busy, so that is something we have to monitor closely.”
Meanwhile, Munster head coach Van Graan made five changes following their defeat to Bulls.
De Allende, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, John Ryan and John Hodnett all come into the starting XV.
Five Munster Rugby Academy players are included as Alex Kendellen keeps his place at No.8 with Scott Buckley, Mark Donnelly, Eoin O’Connor and Paddy Patterson among the replacements.
Mike Haley starts at fullback with Calvin Nash and Daly on either flank.
De Allende and Chris Farrell form the centre partnership with Neil Cronin and Crowley in the halfbacks.
Ryan joins Josh Wycherley and Niall Scannell in the front row with the second-row pairing of Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley unchanged.
O’Donoghue, Hodnett and Kendellen complete the side.
Buckley, Keynan Knox and Liam Coombes come into the squad among the replacements.
Predictions:
@rugby365com: Munster by five points
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (Captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole,
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Nico Steyn /Ginter Smuts, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Neil Cronin, 8 Alex Kendellen, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Keynan Knox, 19 Eoin O’Connor, 20 Chris Cloete, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Liam Coombes
Date: Saturday, March 19
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 14.00 (12.00 Ireland time; 12.00 GMT)
Referee: Adam Jones
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Paul Mentte
TMO: Chris Busby
