Lions unchanged for clash with Warriors

Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named an unchanged starting XV ahead of his side’s Round 14 Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening.

Springbok bruiser Ruan Venter will run out for his 50th international appearance for the franchise and will be eager to impose his physicality against the tournament’s defending champions.

Van Rooyen’s men will be hoping to put last week’s nail-biting 20-17 loss to Cardiff behind them, with a renewed focus towards a play-off finish in what remains a congested log table.

Speaking from Glasgow this week, tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye believes capatilising on opportunities at key moments could have a huge impact on end result at the Scotstoun Stadium.

“Last week was a missed opportunity, we reviewed our game and we played really well,” said Ntlabakanye.

“Just being clinical at the finishing stages, that’s been a work-on this week – finishing opportunities when we get into those zones.”

Fondly known as the ‘Jozi Bulldozer’, the man who hails from Plettenburg Bay in the Western Cape, believes adapting to conditions in Europe is key especially when facing a championship side such as Glasgow at home.

“Here in Europe it’s a bit different, there’s a lot of things that factor into the end result, in that if you don’t really capitalise, the home team knows how to play the conditions. So we need to be better in that aspect,” he concluded.

There is only one change on the bench which sees Rynhardt Jonker replacing Henco van Wyk. The explosive centre returns home after sustaining a foot injury against Cardiff Rugby.

Kick-off is on Saturday at 9.35pm (SA time).

Emirates Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Jarod Cairns, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

SATURDAY

Glasgow Warriors v Emirates Lions

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 7.35pm IRE & UK/8.35pm ITA/9.35pm SA

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 37th league game)

AR 1: Ru Campbell (SRU) AR 2: Fin Brown (SRU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv