Lions unleash Junior Bok powerhouse, resist Haashim Pead urge and welcome Springboks hopeful back
Junior Springboks flanker Batho Hlekani and an inset of scrum-half Haashim Pead.
Junior Springbok star Batho Hlekani is set to make his debut for the Lions this weekend in the EPCR Challenge Cup fixture against Lyon at Ellis Park.
The World Rugby U20 Championship winner joined the Johannesburg-based outfit from the Sharks last week, a move exclusively reported by Planet Rugby last July, and is in line to make his first appearance in the red jersey from the bench.
Lions bolstered by Hlekani
Smarting from their victory over the Durbanites last week, Lions head coach Ivan Rooyen has been forced to make a handful of changes to his matchday 23 for the Challenge Cup encounter, with the Joburgers desperate for a win.
That includes in the front row, where Conrad van Vuuren replaces Springboks prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who is nursing a hamstring niggle. Van Vuuren starts alongside hooker PJ Botha and loosehead prop Eddie Davids.
Dylan Sjoblom and Ruan Delport combine in the engine room while Renzo du Plessis is promoted to the run-on team along with Siba Qoma and captain Francke Horne. Meanwhile, flanker Ruan Venter misses the encounter after being handed a four-match ban following his red card against the Sharks.
There is only one change to the backline with Richard Kriel starting on the right wing with Angelo Davids retained on the left and Quan Horn at full-back. Meanwhile, Bronson Mills and Erich Cronje are the starting midfielders once again.
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Haashim Pead is included on the bench after his match-winning impact against the Sharks and is joined among the replacements by returning star centre Henco van Wyk. Rabz Maxwane is the third backline replacement in the 5-3 split.
Hlekani features as the forwards replacements along with Morne Brandon, RF Schoeman, Sebastian Lombard, and Ruben Schoeman.
“The difficult thing about the French teams is that you never know which team you are going to play,” Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys said.
“Home or away, you can never be sure of who is going to be selected. They are very good when they get momentum at the beginning, coupled with a very good kicking game.
“The French are smart with when they shoot up and they are careful in their own half until they feel they can make an attack. For us, we know we have to be awake.
“Obviously they bring a massive set-piece focus. They pride themselves in that,’ he concluded.
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Lions team v Lyon
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Eddie Davids
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Henco van Wyk, 23 Rabz Maxwane
Venue: Ellis Park
Kick-off: 17:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (Eng), Richard Gordon (Eng)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
How to watch: SuperSport / beIN SPORTS / epcrugby.tv / FloRugby
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