Lions Rugby Shop

MTN Lions coach John Mitchell has picked a mixture of last year’s stalwarts and newcomers to face the Southern Kings in a compulsory friendly in George on Tuesday. 

A notable selection is that of last year’s Player of the Match in the Currie Cup final, Elton Jantjies at flyhalf. He has nursed a broken hand in recent weeks but is now ready for much-needed match contact. World Cup Springbok Butch James is on the bench where newcomers to the Lions, former WP and Maties lock Stephan Greeff, flank Doppies le Roux (Pumas) and scrumhalf Tian Meyer (Pumas) get their first look-in at Lions action. UJ hooker Francois du Toit is also on the bench to face the Southern Kings.

One of the starting newcomers is former Emerging Springbok and Bulls, Griquas/Cheetahs and Waratahs lock Hendrik Roodt, who partners 20-year-old Lions Under-21 lock from last year, Ruan Botha. Former Maties captain and last year’s Player of the Tournament in the FNB Varsity Cup is hooker Callie Visagie, another newcomer who starts for the Lions.

Hooker Martin Bezuidenhout, who saw some Super Rugby action last year, is being phased in after injury and will play against the Pumas this weekend.

The rest of the team is an experienced outfit. Cobus Grobbelaar and Derick Minnie are the flanks in the absence of flank/lock Michael Rhodes who is still under rehab for a knee injury; and last season’s regular locks Wikus van Heerden and Franco van der Merwe are also under rehab to ensure they’re fit for the Super Rugby kick-off in two weeks’ time.

In the backline wing Michael Killian was not considered because of a slight hamstring niggle and James Kamana will start on the left wing. Doppies la Grange has been selected at outside centre with Lionel Mapoe starting on the bench.

The team is:

Jaco Taute, Deon van Rensburg, Doppies la Grange, Alwyn Hollenbach, James Kamana, Elton Jantjies, Michael Bondesio, Joshua Strauss (capt.), Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar, Ruaan Botha, Hendrik Roodt, Patric Cilliers, Callie Visagie, JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacements: Francois du Toit, Jacobie Adriaanse, Stephan Greeff, Doppies le Roux, Tiaan Meyer, Butch James, Lionel Mapoe.