Ethan Adams will run out at 13 for the Lions as one of six changes to the starting XV by coach Mziwakhe Nkosi for Friday’s must-win Currie Cup tie against the Stormers XXIII.
The hulking Adams made his Currie Cup debut last week and now gets his first home start for the Joburgers at Ellis Park, coming into the outside centre berth.
There are also changes at flyhalf, scrumhalf, No 8 and tighthead prop. Matt Coetzee comes in for the injured Sam Francis at 10, while Asad Moos moves into the No 9 jersey, with Zian Cilliers switching to the bench.
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Captain Jarod Cairns and Renzo du Plessis also swap positions, with Cairns moving to No 8 and Du Plessis to blindside flank. Ruan Swart returns at tighthead, with Conrad van Vuuren dropping to the bench.
The Lions host the fifth-placed Stormers with both teams still in the playoff mix. A win could take the Lions into the top four, although bonus points elsewhere could prove decisive.
The Stormers, meanwhile, need victory to strengthen their position, but face a Lions side that has won the last three meetings between the teams. Overall, Nkosi’s men have won four of the previous five encounters, with the Capetonians’ last victory coming in March 2023.
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LIONS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keagan Smith, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Latica Nela, 10 Matt Coetzee, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Jarod Cairns (c), 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Siba Qoma, 3 Ruan Swart, 2 Armand Combrinck, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Cecil Parsons, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Marco Ferreira, 21 Zian Cilliers, 22 Exauce Kevani, 23 Luke Cannon.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
