Franco van der Merwe
Springbok lock forward Franco van der Merwe has recovered fully from the ankle injury that forced him to miss much of the Lions’ Super Rugby campaign, and has been drafted straight in to the starting side by head coach Johan Ackermann for Friday nights clash against the Rebels at Ellis Park.
The big Springbok’s inclusion will add some most welcome steel to the Lions second row for the clash against the team currently 1 place below the home side on the combined log.
In is a game the Johannesburg based outfit will be desperate to win before faceing the Cheetahs in their final round robin game which may well decide the Wooden Spoonists of the SA conference, Ackermann will be hoping for a dispaly at least as intense as that which saw the Lions to victory over Gauteng neighbours the Bulls just ove a month ago.
The full media release from the Lions reads:
Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named his 23-man side to take on the Rebels at Ellis Park on Friday evening.
In the forwards Ackermann has opted largely for consistency, selecting the same front row and loose trio that faced the Bulls before the June Test break.
The only change in the forwards sees Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe return to action, having fully recovered from his ankle injury.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Anthony Volmink will start at left wing, while Deon van Rensburg covers the right wing berth.
The match will kick off at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
Lions: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (Captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen / Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
Interesting to see Tecklenburg picked ahead of Derek Minnie in the starting line-up.
Adrian Strauss on his way to the Bulls…
Apparently he got two good offers – one from Kaapstad and the other from Pretoorstad…
Apparently choosing Pretoria as it comes with captaincy… 🙄
@ Gumboots:
He’ll be a massive loss the the Orange ‘Tahs, and a bloody good buy for the Horney Ones.
Scrumdown wrote:
For sure! A massive loss, but if I were him, I would have moved to the land of beauty, opportunity and rugby culture… 😉
du Preez also out for at least three months… just hope Meyer gets on the phone to Kockett before he commits to the frogs…
Gumboots wrote:
Kockett would be freeking mad to swap a handfull of SA caps off the bench for a long run in the french national team.
Gumboots wrote:
The land of the long white cloud? AKA New Zealand?
5 @ Scrumdown:
I already have Inventor 2014 for your friend, still busy with your SolidWorks 2014 SP4 64-Bit.
Scrumdown wrote:
Naa man! The Republic of Western Cape… 😆
10 @ grootblousmile:
Magic. Thanks.
grootblousmile wrote:
Is it a good time to place our orders?
11 @ Gumboots:
Papsak, gumming and Caped Crusaders?
Cool ad featuring Bissie
http://www.dieburger.com/nuus/2014-07-01-bismarck-die-fliekganger-en-die-selfoon
@ nortierd:
15
Hi Nortj’e
So the Stormers missed on Adriaan Strauss?
I believe Chiliboi is still available?
Hondo wrote:
And Earl Rose for their chronic flyhalf problem.
@ Hondo:
They first need to get Gerrie Nel to assist in his latest drug case…
Wonder why the Telly Tubbie decided on the Bulls instead of that awesome side from Skop’s Visdorpie?
I guess his wife told him he would look cool with a snor
I wonder what Cane is going to say about the ex Black Cap cricketer who admitted to cheating and match fixing?
@ Hondo:
We don’t need another Bull in our camp. That’s why we got rid of Shadow, the useless twit.
With Fourie du Preez out of the RC, the name of Rory Kockett will no doubt be thrown around as a possible starter for the Boks.
To those of you who feel like that, where did you rate him when he played for the Sharks and the Lions before he moved overseas?
The way I look at it, Kockett is a hero for his club in France because of his kicking at poles. Much like Ruan Pienaar in Ireland.
We know how most of you feel about Pienaar at scrum half, don’t we?
ek het my self nou amptelik van die cheetahs geskei, as jy nie eens die lojaalste speler in jou groep kan behou nie is daar groot fout, ek skat ek sal nou maar moet soek na n nuwe tuiste vir my rugby hart
13 @ Gumboots:
If the price is right, I am all ears!
@ smallies:
Hoekom het jy dit nie destyds gedoen toe Rassie en Os na die Bulle toe gegaan het nie?
@ Nama:toe het ons plei weg nie geld gehad nie, maar met peet kleynhans as afrigter kon ons steeds met jong spelers presteeer, die egskeiding sal geldig bly tot verster en drotske weg is
Kockott will play one game for the boks, after which half the SA rugby public will piss and moan about how “slow” he is.
@ smallies:
Hahaha… ek hoor jou.
Ek sien gister Keo noem dat JW moontlik in 2015 of daarna by die Stormers kan oorneem. Dis dan wat ek ook my papier ingee.
@ MacroBull:
Presies.
Almal het gese hoedat hy dit verdien toe hy daai moerse klap by ‘n slot (kan nie onthou wie nie) gekry het. Hy was gemiddeld by die Sharks. Soveel so dat hy later nie mr no. 1 keuse was nie en liewers na die Leeus toe gegaan het.
Nog ‘n geval van ‘n gemiddelde SA speler wat oorsee gaan, daar goed vaar en ewe skielik is hy ne wat die Bokke nodig het.
Strauss coming back where he belongs
27 @ Nama:
Almal verwag die perfekte speler wat nooit ooit n fout maak nie, Ruan pienaar pienaar het daai eerste game nie te sleg gespeel nie, behalwe sy skoppe wat afgestorm was, ons het wel n probleem om skoon maak in die losgemale, glo ek, geen skrumskakel kan onder daai druk speel met balle wat net random uitpop nie, dan is dit als somme Ruan se skuld.
Kockott gaan dieselfde kak kry, Ruan word al gekeur nog oor hy op die veld draf en waneer Kockott nie ALS perfek doen nie gaan hy die wind van voor af kry… terwyl hy n langer beter loopbaan vir frankryk sal he(as hulle hom kies)
Hondo will like this.
“Cape Town – Springbok and Cheetahs prop Trevor Nyakane may be on his way to the Cape to play for Western Province and the Stormers.
According to the supersport.com website, the Bulls were also keen to sign Nyakane, but it now seems the Capetonians may have won the battle for his signature.” (news24)
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