Springboks return as star celebrates Lions milestone
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will be looking to end their overseas tour on a high this Friday night when they take on the Ospreys in Round 10 of the United Rugby Championship in Bridgend, Wales.
With their focus now solely on the URC, the Joburgers will set their sights on ninth-place Ospreys in what should be another thrilling encounter between the two sides, who have met five times in all competitions with the Welsh claiming three.
On the field, the conditions at the Electric Brewery Field will be an unfamiliar venue to the visitors, and will pose interesting challenges come Friday night.
In team news, a new look front row sees SJ Kotze, PJ Botha and Springbok Asenathi Ntlabakanye combine in the scrum, with Ruben Schoeman the preferred starter alongside Reinhard Nothnagel in the second row.
The backline features Springbok halfback Morne van den Berg at the base of the scrum, with star centre Henco van Wyk running out for his 50th international club appearance for his franchise.
Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has gone with a powerful bench which includes bruiser Etienne Oosthuizen and turnover king Jarod Cairns – who is yet to feature on this tour. Haashim Pead and Erich Cronje complete the backline options.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Jarod Cairns, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Erich Cronje
Date: Friday, January 23
Venue: Electric Brewery Field, Wales
Kick-off: 19.45 (19.45 GMT; 21.45 SAST)
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Lucas Yendle (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
