The Star Early Edition

LIONS HUNTING BOK SELECTION

Play well against Sharks and national coach’s interest might just be piqued

- JACQUES VAN DER WESTHUYZEN @jacq_VD

THE Lions have received a timely boost with the availabili­ty again of scrumhalf Ross Cronje, who has been included in – and been named captain of – the Lions team to face the Sharks in a Currie Cup game in Durban tomorrow.

Cronje, pictured, who takes over the leadership from Marvin Orie, returns a week after the Lions copped a big hiding from Western Province and after he sat on the bench for the Springboks in their now famous win against the All Blacks in Wellington.

The Bok No 9 – who has 10 Test caps to his name – will bring energy and confidence to the Lions team who, with a win, will secure their place in the top four and the semifinals in a month’s time.

But Cronje won’t be the only Lions player out to impress and make a difference this weekend. Injuries to a number of Bok players who featured recently in Rugby Championsh­ip matches and the unavailabi­lity of others means national coach Rassie Erasmus will keep a close eye on the Currie Cup matches this weekend before finalising his squad for the home Tests against Australia and New Zealand.

Centres Lukhanyo Am and Damian de Allende are injured, as is wing Makazole Mapimpi, while England-based duo – fullback Willie le Roux and loose-forward Francois Louw – are unavailabl­e.

What it means for three of the Lions’ backline players is an opportunit­y to get back into the Bok frame.

Andries Coetzee, Lionel Mapoe and Courtnall Skosan have all got Bok experience and will come into the reckoning should they perform well this weekend.

With 14 Test caps to his name, Mapoe, especially, has a strong case for inclusion in the squad as he covers outside centre and wing.

Making this weekend’s match against the Sharks even more interestin­g is the fact that several of their players, too, will be hoping to catch Erasmus’ eye; among them Curwin Bosch, Lwazi Mvovo, and coming off the bench, fit-again Sbu Nkosi.

The Lions are coming off a first defeat of the Currie Cup competitio­n, while the Sharks are unbeaten so far.

In the only other change to the Lions team that lost to Western Province last week, tighthead prop Johannes Jonker starts in the No 3 jersey.

The game kicks off at 5.15pm.

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