There are several changes to the side that featured a week ago in the loss to Benetton.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has rung the changes to his side for the team’s third-last United Rugby Championship match of the season, against Connacht from Ireland, at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The Lions, coming off a defeat to Benetton last weekend which kept them down in 14th place in the standings, have a mathematical chance of still making the top eight, but will need to win all three of their remaining games, with bonus points, and hope other results go their way.
It is a highly unlikely scenario, though coach Van Rooyen last weekend stated his side were “still alive” in the competition.
New-look loose trio and midfield pairing
With little to lose, Van Rooyen has made several changes to the side that crashed last weekend.
In some of the most interesting selections, in the back row Jarod Cairns comes in for the injured Francke Horn, to partner JC Pretorius and rookie Renzo du Plessis, while there is also a new midfield pairing in Henco van Wyk, who’s back in the mix after injury troubles, and rookie Bronson Mills, a KES old boy.
Another notable selection is on the bench where flyhalf specialist Lubabalo Dobela is set to make his debut for the Lions. The former Grey High pupil played previously for the Junior Boks, Cheetahs, Griquas and Blitzboks.
Lions team: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills, Edwill van der Merwe, Kade Wolhuter, Morne van den Berg, Jarod Cairns, Renzo du Plessis, JC Pretorius, Ruan Delport, Ruben Schoeman, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Jaco Visagie, Morgan Naude. Bench: PJ Botha, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Darrien Landsberg, Izan Esterhuizen, Nico Steyn, Lubabalo Dobela, Rynhardt Jonker
