Springbok Jaco Kriel returns to the Lions 23 to face the Glasgow Warriors in Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final at Scotstoun Stadium.
He starts at openside flank, in place of the suspended Emmanuel Tshituka, in a relatively unchanged lineup named by head coach Ivan van Rooyen for the knockout clash.
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Kriel has previously led The Pride, but inside centre Marius Louw retains the captaincy, as lock Ruben Schoeman is promoted to the starting XV and his place on the bench taken by Ruan Delport. Reinhard Nothnagel is the notable absentee.
The Lions – playing with only 14 men for more than an hour – clinched a place in the last eight with a 51-28 win against Racing 92 in Johannesburg last week, while five tries from Johnny Matthews steered a rampant Glasgow Warriors past Dragons 73-33.
It’s EPCR QFs time! This is your Match 23, who’ll be taking on Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening.
? @GlasgowWarriors
?: @ChallengeCup_
?: Saturday, 8 April
⏰: 21:00
?️: https://t.co/BI9jz0eVj9
?: Scotstoun Stadium#LionsPride? pic.twitter.com/CX0jZwljsp— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) April 7, 2023
Will Glasgow Warriors put an end to the Lions’ rampage, or will they taste defeat at Scotstoun Stadium? @mark_keohane and Zels make their Challenge Cup picks. pic.twitter.com/yDD3CvwDIK
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) April 6, 2023
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images