All-or-nothing as Lions go on the attack
THE Xerox Lions will not die wondering, not after selecting virtually a full-strength matchday 23 to take on the table topping Blue Bulls today.
Due to Level 3 restrictions, the match at Loftus Versfeld will kick-off at 4pm, but coach Ivan van Rooyen was unreserved when he named his team. The coach did make slight tweaks here and there, but for the most part it is the Lions team that has won five games on the trot, and the squad that has not only secured a play-off berth but also has the very real possibility of playing a home semi-final.
They must first beat the Bulls, however, and then hope the Sharks do similarly at Newlands this weekend when they are hosted by the Western Province. Moreover, the changes made are nothing to frown upon, and have arguably strengthened the side for what is expected to be another bruising encounter.
At outside-centre the unit that is Burger Odendaal returns to his former hunting ground in Pretoria, and joins another brick-house in Dan Kriel to make up the mid-field paring, while the X-Factor of Wandisile Simelane drops down to the bench and could be the perfect late-game tonic to open up a stingy Bulls defence. Meanwhile, some rotation in the loose- forwards means Springbok Jaco Kriel – who has played every Currie Cup match this season – is rested, with the nuggety live wire Marnus Schoeman packing down in his place. Van Rooyen has gone with a 6-2 split, with former baby Bok, and one for the future, 21-year-old Francke Horn sitting on the bench as loosie cover, while Wilhelm van der Sluys will act as added cover for both lock and flank, if the need so arises.
After a well-earned rest, another former Bok and veteran, Jannie du Plessis, returns to the starting XV. The good doctor replaces Wiehahn Herbst for the all-important clash and his presence could well tip the scrum-battle in the favour of the visiting team. Andre Warner remains the preferred scrumhalf, while Bok Ross Cronje will look on from sidelines and await his call-up onto the field, Morne van den Merwe dropping out of the side completely.
Captain Elton Jantjies will call the shots – as always – from pivot, and because this is the Highveld, will have the luxury to turn to the big kicking boot of full-back Tiaan Swanepoel.
It is an impressive 23, one that has had a quick turnaround after a hardfought victory against the Pumas this past weekend, where the gameplan and its execution didn’t always click but where the triumph was far more important than any other considerations.
Van Rooyen, however, revealed that the team is ready and that all systems are go for this afternoon’s Carling Currie Cup encounter.
Said the coach yesterday: “It is a different week, I don’t think we have played two games in five days. I think the last time that happened, for most of these guys, was at the Craven Week.
“There was a lot learned from the Pumas game,” he continued. “We spent the majority of Monday just to refresh the bodies, to get a lot of learning and teaching in to see what we want to do and what went wrong, and what we want to work on … The guys are looking refreshed enough, they are looking ready and excited to play.”
Lions starting XV: Tiaan Swanepoel, Stean Pienaar, Burger Odendaal, Dan Kriel, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies (capt), Andre Warner; Len Massyn, Vincent Tshituka, Marnus Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Willem Alberts, Jannie du Plessis, Jaco Visagie, Dylan Smith; Replacements: Jan-Henning Campher, Ruan Dreyer, Carlu Sadie, Reinhardt Nothnagel, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Ross Cronje, Wandisile Simelane, Francke Horn