Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made just two changes to the Lions starting XV to face the Vodacom Bulls in the Jukskei Derby at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Van Rooyen has opted for consistency for the round 10 clash in the Vodacom URC after a two-point defeat against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld two weeks ago.
The Lions are currently 10th on the standings while the Bulls are fourth, but the teams are separated by just six points.
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The Lions backline remains unchanged with Van Rooyen again placing his trust in the halfback pairing of Morne van den Berg and Sanele Nohamba.
Lock Etienne Oosthuizen replaces Ruben Schoeman in the engine room and will earn his first URC cap, while Ruan Venter comes in at blindside flanker for Emmanuel Tshituka, ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The bench also sees two changes – up front, hooker PJ Botha replaces Morne Brandon and prop Conraad van Vuuren comes in for Ruan Dreyer.
The team will be sporting their school or club colours in a unique start to the second half of the URC this weekend, in the first of two special Origin Rounds where the players’ rugby roots will be remembered and celebrated.
Lions – 15 Quan Horn (Paarl Boys’ High), 14 Richard Kriel (Grey College), 13 Henco van Wyk (Hoërskool Monument), 12 Marius Louw (c, Grey College), 11 Edwill van der Merwe (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 10 Sanele Nohamba (Durban High), 9 Morne van den Berg (Hoërskool Linden), 8 Francke Horn (Paarl Boys’ High), 7 Ruan Venter (Paarl Boys’ High), 6 Hanru Sirgel (Hoërskool Grens), 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (Hoërskool Monument), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen (Bergsig Academy), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (St Stithians College), 2 Jaco Visagie (Augsburg Agricultural Gymnasium), 1 JP Smith (Paarl Gimnasium).
Subs: 16 PJ Botha (Hoërskool Monument), 17 Morgan Naude (Hoerskool Nelspruit), 18 Conraad van Vuuren (Hoerskool Nelspruit), 19 Darrien Landsberg (Northcliff High), 20 Izan Esterhuizen (Hoërskool Monument), 21 JC Pretorius (Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg) 22 Jordan Hendrikse (Glenwood High), 23 Erich Cronje (EG Jansen).
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images
This is going to be a battle and a half. Come prepared.🦁
🆚 Vodacom Bulls
🏆: Vodacom United Rugby Championship
🗓: Sat, 17 Feb
⏰: 15:00
🚗📍: https://t.co/n3FomFT8RB
🎟️: https://t.co/dyyqIto7es
🏟 : Emirates Airline Park#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/rqJ39HMArb— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) February 16, 2024
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter