Cash casts wide net in Lions squad

Lions coach Cash van Rooyen will show his first-selection hand of the year today when he names an enlarged squad for Sunday’s Superhero action against the Bulls at FNB Stadium.

Van Rooyen could name between 28 and 30 players, with this weekend’s clash not being an official match, and a rolling substitute system was set to be in place for the warm-up fixture.

While seasoned Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, right, was expected to be named as Lions captain, there was interest regarding the capacity in which Van Rooyen would expose new signings, like prop Jannie du Plessis, centre Dan Kriel, scrumhalf Andre Warner, flank Roelof Smit and eighthman Willem Alberts.

Van Rooyen was also set to share more light on the potential return of injured former captain Warren Whiteley.

On the field, the Lions mentor was likely to focus on the search for replacements for flank Kwagga Smith and hooker Malcolm

Marx, both on duty in Japan.

Pieter Jansen was Marx’s likely successor, while Smit was expected to be measured against the likes of Cyle Brink, Vincent Tshituka and Pikkie de Villiers.

Hacjivah Dayimani and Alberts could compete for the No 8 spot.

The Bulls match was Smit’s first opportunity to face his former team after they showed preference for Marco van Staden and Ruan Steenkamp in his position.

“Being with the Lions is unbelievable,” Smit told RugbyRocks. com. “It feels like I’ve been with the franchise for three years. They have an amazing culture, there’s a great family vibe and they are so accepting to new players.”

Smit, 27, who is from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, had been in the Bulls structures since 2012 but did not believe he was given sufficient opportunity to prove his worth.

“I feel they didn’t treat me well,” he said. “I did struggle with a few injuries but it felt as though the Bulls turned their back on me and simply did not want to give me any game time.”