The Emirates Lions have made two changes to their starting XV ahead of their rescheduled Round 1 encounter against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday (2pm kick-off).
Flanker Sibabalo Qoma replaces Springbok Ruan Venter in the loose trio. Venter is undergoing the mandatory return to play protocol after suffering a head knock against the same opposition last week.
Still in the backrow, Jarod Cairns slots in for JC Pretorius who was unavailable for selection due to an injury suffered in training this week.
Describing the week ahead of Saturday, the Lions mentor Ivan van Rooyen said despite the changes in weather over the past three days on the Highveld, his team managed to prepare well overall.
“It’s been good week for us. There was quite a bit of rain on Monday, so we had to train indoors but overall, we had good training sessions on the rest of the days this week with quite bit of focus on fixes on our side ahead of a tough encounter against the Sharks.”
Despite a convincing 38-14 victory against the men from Durban last week Saturday at Emirates Lions Park, the man fondly known as ‘Cash’ says he is under no illusions of the task awaiting his side at the coast.
“New week, new challenge. We under no illusion that they are going to be a lot better. Any team SA team that’s hurting after a loss in a local derby will be more physical and up for the challenge. We know that it’s going to be a totally different first 20-40 minutes coming our way on Saturday so it’s important for us to be better and focus on what we want to do,” he concluded.
On the replacements bench, former Sharks hooker Franco Marais makes a comeback, with Morgan Naude and Conraad van Vuuren completing the front row changes.
Izan Esterhuizen and WJ Steenkamp will be introduced to provide cover in the loose trio.
Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Siya Kolisi (capt), 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins; 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 James Venter, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Emirates Lions starting XV: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van der Berg; 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Jarod Cairns; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 WJ Steenkamp, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
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