Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has taken a different approach to this weekend’s crucial United Rugby Championship fixture against Connacht at Ellis Park (4pm kick-off) by including King Edward VII School (KES) old boy Bronson Mills at inside centre.
Mills, who makes his Lions debut, partners the returning Henco van Wyk in the midfield in a new-look centre combination.
Back on the right wing is Richard Kriel, who missed out on last week’s defeat to Benetton due to a niggle picked at training.
The loose trio sees Jarod Cairns come in for the injured Francke Horn, who sustained a knee injury in Round 15, forcing him off the field during the first half.
The explosive Renzo du Plessis secures a starting berth, with star poacher JC Pretorius completing the back row.
Veteran hooker Jaco Visagie will lead the team in Horn’s absence.
Earlier this week, Lions scrum guru Julian Redelinghuys spoke about the huge pressure on the team in the Race to Eight, especially after last week’s 42-31 loss to the Italians.
“We have spoken a lot about pressure over the past few weeks,” Redelinghuys added.
“Pressure can numb you. It can make you retreat into yourself, or you can use it as a privilege.
“We are playing the game we love and working with people we care for. This sport isn’t played to be fun or nice, it’s played to be won and make the playoffs.
“We want to make that big step up collectively, and we believe our best rugby is yet to be played,” he concluded.
A notable inclusion on the bench is that of Lubabalo Dobela, who is yet to make his debut for the Lions.
Izan Esterhuizen and Darrien Landsberg are among the impact players on the bench.
Lions Team
15 Quan Horn 14 Richard Kriel 13 Henco van Wyk 12 Bronson Mills 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Kade Wolhuter 9 Morné van den Berg 8 Jarod Cairns 7 Renzo du Plessis 6 JC Pretorius 5 Ruan Delport 4 Ruben Schoeman 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 Jaco Visagie (captain) 1 Morgan Naudé.
Bench: 16 PJ Botha 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Darrien Landsberg 20 Izan Esterhuizen 21 Nico Steyn 22 Lubabalo Dobela 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
