Head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi has made three changes to the Lions starting XV to face Griquas in the Currie Cup at Ellis Park on Friday afternoon.
Sibabalo Qoma and Ruhan Straeuli replace Ruan Venter and Izan Esterhuizen at blindside flanker and No 8, respectively. Venter, along with Morne van den Berg and Tapiwa Mafura, have been called up for international duty while Esterhuizen is ruled out due to an undisclosed injury.
Qoma, who joined the Lions from the Cheetahs in July, will earn his first start after scoring a try off the bench on debut in a 10-try victory against the Pumas in Nelspruit last week.
In the backline, speedster Kelly Mpeku comes in for the injured Edwill van der Merwe on the right wing.
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However, Nkosi has freshened things up on the bench for the round 3 clash in Johannesburg, with Morne Brandon, Luca Ribbons, Renzo du Plessis, Layton Horn, Zander du Plessis and Bronson Mills all set to feature off the wood.
“We’re incredibly excited to be at home this Friday to take on a very well-coached Griquas side,” said Nkosi.
“We are quite keen to continue with the momentum we’ve managed to build thus far against a side who themselves claimed victory against the Sharks last week. It’s going to be a big one for the guys in familiar territory so we look forward to it.”
Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
