Quan gives the Lions horns in Montpellier

Standard published on

The Lions have recalled Springbok fullback Quan Horn for the EPCR Challenge Cup clash against Montpellier in France on Saturday.

Horn marks one of six changes to the team that went down 29-10 to the Stormers in Cape Town two weeks ago as the Lions attempt to retain their place in the playoff race when they square up against 2016 winners Montpellier at the GGL Stadium in the south of France.

The 23-year-old who made his Test debut against Portugal last year takes over from Tapiwa Mafura in a new-look back three with fellow Bok flyer Edwill van der Merwe and 21-year-old KES old boy, Kelly Mpeku, making his Lions bow on the right wing in place of Rabz Maxwane.

In other changes, Morne van den Berg drops out and is replaced at scrumhalf by Nico Steyn, with Sanele Nohamba providing cover from the bench.

Izan ver der Westhuizen starts at blindside flank in a rejigged back row with WJ Steenkamp on the openside and Francke Horn at No 8, while Etienne Oosthuizen packs down at lock for the suspended Ruben Schoeman and Jaco Visagie slides in at No 2, bumping Piet Visagie to a 6-2 bench that features JC Pretorius and Ruhan Straeuli.

Having started the season with four straight wins to power into second place on the URC table, the Lions have since lost four of their last five matches.

In the Challenge Cup, they followed up a 30-14 loss at Ospreys with a 43-35 victory over Pau at Ellis Park, and consequently head into round 3 in fourth place in group 2 – the top four teams in each group after four rounds advance to the playoffs.

“For us it is about getting back to our identity. How we want to play, ‘ said Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys. “The focus has just been on us. We’ve only looked at Montpellier in the last two days.

“For us, balancing the Lions way works really well if it’s dry,” he said with reference to forecasts of 16kmph winds and a temperature of 10 degrees. “If it’s lekker conditions, then we can let the ball fly, but if we are playing in the wet, we don’t want to become conservative, and sometimes we feel we do become conservative.

“And for us to still play dynamic rugby, obviously we got to change a couple of strategic plans, but still be dynamic and still to play to enjoy, still to attack and guys to express themselves.”

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images

Post by