Tuks' Jackson handed Lions start
Former FNB Tuks flyer Johan Jackson has been named in the Golden Lions’ starting line-up for Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls.
Try-machine Jackson will start in the No.11 shirt – ironically against his old province – and will be joined by fellow Varsity Cup star and new Lions signing, UCT’s Pieter Engelbrecht, who will start on the bench.
Walter Venter – who played for FNB UJ during the 2009 Varsity Cup – will start at inside centre for the Lions, with Engelbrecht covering both centre positions and even the wing at a push.
Jackson, 22, has only just moved to Johannesburg, having spent the past two seasons with the Blue Bulls… and Tukkies.
The ex-SA Emerging Sevens representative played Vodacom Cup rugby for the Bulls last year, before being loaned out to the Valke during the 2008 Currie Cup.
Of course, Jackson has been a regular for Tuks in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International; scoring two tries in this year’s tournament and five last season.
Jackson, who was born in Rustenberg, played Craven Week in 2004 and 2005, before going on to represent the Leopards’ Under-19 and Under-21 teams in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
The Lions team: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Pieter Engelbrecht, 22 Michael Killian.
