'Big Joe' benched for Lions
Springbok loose forward Joe van Niekerk will start his new Super 14 adventure, for the Lions, on the bench against the Cheetahs on Saturday.
Springbok loose forward Joe van Niekerk will start his new Super 14 adventure, for the Lions, on the bench against the Cheetahs on Saturday.
Van Niekerk, who found himself in limbo after his contract with English club Northampton Saints fell through, was quickly snapped up by coach Eugene Eloff late last year.
The Springbok of 48 Tests, who last played for a Johannesburg franchise in 2003, when he turned out for the Cats (an amalgamation of the Cheetahs and the Lions), has recovered from a back injury that ruled him out of World Cup contention last year.
'Big Joe', as he is affectionately known, will have an important role to play in a Lions squad that is currently plagued by injuries to several key players.
Eloff said he gave an undertaking to Van Niekerk that he would phase him in after injury and not throw him to the wolves.
Dusty Noble, who joined the Lions from the Sharks, is one of three players who will debut for the Johannesburg-based franchise. Noble will play on the right wing.
The other newcomers in Eloff's squad are No.8 RW Kember and prop Ross Geldenhuys.
While the team is no doubt the strongest that Eloff could put out for this weekend, you can't help but notice the big-names that are missing from that matchday 22.
Cobus Grobbelaar takes over the captaincy, with regular skipper Ernst Joubert still struggling with a back injury.
Louis Strydom will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders at flyhalf, in the absence of André Pretorius (foot). There is also no Jaque Fourie (groin) in the midfield and no Willem Alberts (knee) at the base of the scrum.
Other injuries include prop JC Janse van Rensburg and centre Walter Venter, who are both still struggling with shoulder problems.
The Lions will be pulling out all stops to secure victory against the Cheetahs and start their Super 14 campaign on a positive note.
Lions:15 Louis Ludik, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Jaco Pretorius (vc), 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 RW Kember, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Gert-Andries van der Merwe, 17 Gavin Williamson, 18 Alten Hulme, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Jaco van Schalkwyk.
Date: Saturday, 16 February
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.05 (17.05 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: JC Fortuin (South Africa), François Veldsman (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)