Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made three changes to the Lions starting XV to face Zebre Parma in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions are back at Ellis Park this weekend in round 6 of the Vodacom URC. Fresh from a four-week tour of Europe, the Joburgers will be eager to collect maximum points at home against the Italians, who drew 22-22 with Cardiff in Parma last week.

Journeyman prop JP Smith takes over the No 1 jersey ahead of Corne Fourie, with lock Ruan Delport and flanker Ruan Venter earning starts as well.

Fourie, Willem Alberts and Hanru Sirgel are expected to make an impact off the bench after featuring in a narrow defeat against Ulster in Belfast.

Morne van den Berg and Sanele Nohamba continue their half-back partnership as right winger Richard Kriel is set to lock horns with his former teammates on the Highveld.

ALSO: Lions’ Kriel poised for Zebre feast

Asked this week about the different playing conditions in Europe versus South Africa, Lions backline coach Ricardo Loubscher said it’s imperative to have almost two styles of play when navigating this competition.

“We discussed the changes in conditions and what’s clear is that you need different playing styles as you need to plan for wet and cold weather, combined with when you play in sunny, dry conditions here at home,” he added.

“Fair to say we need to be flexible and so hopefully with the next two games at home, we can show what we are capable of with ball in hand.”

Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Delport, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Rabz Maxwane.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images