The Lions welcome the Bulls for Round 11 of the United Rugby Championship for the historic Jukskei Derby at Ellis Park this Saturday.
Both Gauteng-based sides will be looking to climb the tournament log this weekend, with ambitions for the home side to claim the SA Shield with a string of home derbies next month.
Ivan van Rooyen’s charges will draw inspiration from their recent 33-43 victory over their neighbours in November last year, but ‘Cash’ believes Saturday will present a stiffer challenge against Johan Ackermann’s men.
“Obviously, they’ll be hurting from the result at Loftus,” van Rooyen told the Lions’ website.
“But they’ve got some superstars returning in Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Marcell Coetzee, and mentally they’ll be a very different team after the two results they got overseas. We’ll have to rise to that emotional level and physical level,” he said.
“Of course, we’ve got plans, they’ve got plans- but I think the team that can execute under pressure on Saturday, and enforce their strengths more often during the 80 minutes will emerge successful, he added.
Saturday sees a settled Lions 23 in terms of selection, with Chris Smith tasked to control matters for his side against his former employers. A familiar loose-trio led by skipper Francke Horn will brace themselves for an anticipated physical tussle against what will no doubt be a brutal quest for dominance.
In the backline, Springbok Quan Horn provides stability with Richard Kriel and Angelo Davids on the left and right wings, respectively.
Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinnhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Scheoman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Erich Cronje.
