Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made four changes, two injury-enforced and two tactical, to their lineup for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Sharks at Ellis Park.
Lions are fullback and recently capped Springbok Quan Horn along with potential future Bok centre Henco van Wyk have both been ruled out through injury.
They are replaced in the starting lineup by Tapiwa Mafura and Manuel Rass at the back and in midfield respectively.
Up front, former Blitzbok ace JC Pretorius earns selection at openside flank after missing out last week. He comes in for Jarod Cairns. Lock Ruben Schoeman returns to the second row after serving his suspension, with Etienne Oosthuizen dropping out of the Lions’ match 23.
No 8 Francke Horn retains the captaincy for the Lions, who are now in a do-or-die situation in regard to their playoff aspirations.
Lions – 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Jarod Cairns, 23 Rynardt Jonker.
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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/jc-pretorius/lions-lose-springbok-to-injury-gain-blitzbok-for-derby/
