Lions coach Johan Ackermann named two 28-man sides to face the Leopards, in his team’s first Super Rugby warm-up matches.
Both games, scheduled for 16:30 and 19:00, will take place at Ellis Park on Friday.
A rolling substitution system will be in place for both matches, as the games will act as opportunities to test and assess various combinations.
Entrance to both matches is free to the public.
Teams:
Lions – Match One: 15 Kobus de Kock, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Nicolas Hanekom, 12 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 11 Juan Swanepoel, 10 Brendon Hewitt, 9 Ricky Schroeder, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Thabo Mabuza, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Lourence Erasmus, 3 Nico van Zyl, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tyson Mulamba.
Replacements – from: Mark Pretorius, David Kounga, Ruan Venter, MB Lusaseni, Stephan de Wit, Stephan Vermeulen, Jano Venter, Guy Cronje, Ruan van Rensburg, Carlisle Nel, Robert de Bruyn, Caswell Khoza, Hanco Deale.
Date: Friday 24 January
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 16:30 (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Pro Legoete
Lions – Match Two: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Vainon Willis, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie (captain), 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Corne Fourie, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements – from: Willie Wepener, Charles Marais, Jacobus Roux, Martin Muller, Cyle Brink, Lambert Groenewald, Ross Cronje, Jaco van der Walt, Lionel Mapoe, Deon van Rensburg, Deon Helberg, Alwyn Hollenbach, Chrysander Botha.
Date: Friday 24 January
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
LOTS & LOTS of unknowns in these 2 “batallions”.
Ackers better get his combinations sorted out poste haste, otherwise he may well just confuse himself and his merry band of men..
Is Warren Whitely still injured? He’s been named as captain for the SR competition, but isn’t in this group at all.
GBS, I was really considering going along and making a few posts from the game(s) on Friday, but based on this lot I think it’ll be a wasted effort.
I can only see it being a bit like a club practice match with MANY disruptions.
What do you think? I need to RSVP to Tarryn before tomorrow at 08h00.
1 @ Scrumdown:
Good to see Coenie van Wyk, JW Jonker & Stefan Watermeyer of the Pumas getting a good look into the Lions plans.
2 @ Scrumdown:
Look, we won’t be having a Live Game Article for these 2 matches, simply because it is not broadcast on TV… and on top of it I’m away for the last weekend in a while before rugby starts in all earnest.
3 @ grootblousmile:
I’m worried about the level of integrity from the Lions regarding their franchise partners involvement in the competition proper.
How they can fail to make a plan to have Jimmy Stonehouse actively involved astounds me.
5 @ Scrumdown:
I have to agree… Jimmy Stonehouse seems to be getting so much out of players with limited capacity at the Pumas and on top of it seems to gel players fantastically well into one cohesive unit.
Wherever he touches a side, whether it be at the Pumas, recently at the George Sevens Premier League (where he took the Unlimited Titans to the final) or a Barbarians North game, they seem to perform and be innovative.
Lions certainly missing a trick here, big time!
6 @ grootblousmile:
As I said the other day:
INSANITY: Defined as doing the same thing continually and expecting different results.
LIONS: Keep on doing the same old thing, usually with the same results.
The R 1 000 000 question is, do the Lions expect different results?
7 @ Scrumdown:
Yip, I hear you!
These games been moved at the last minute due to a problem with the Ellis Park pitch. (GLRU in direct competition with the Scots, Taffies and French?)
Games will now ne played at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.
1st game @ 17h00, second game @ 19h00.
Entrance for the public is free.
Please tell anyone who’s interested.
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