Centre Richard Kriel will earn his 50th cap for the third-placed Lions when the high-flying South African side face defending champions Leinster in their United Rugby Championship clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday evening (6.30pm kick-off).
The Lions face a stern challenge against a Leinster outfit chasing a Champions Cup and URC double while also protecting a formidable home record — having won 15 consecutive matches at the Aviva since May last year.
However, the Lions travel to Ireland with momentum of their own after building a six-match winning streak at home that has left them within touching distance of securing a valuable home play-off.
It is little surprise, then, that coach Ivan van Rooyen has kept changes to a minimum for the crucial encounter against the Irish giants, who sit just one place below them on points difference alone. Utility back Kriel will continue his midfield partnership with outside centre Henco van Wyk in the ongoing absence of Bronson Mills as he celebrates his half-century milestone.
Nico Steyn again provides cover for Springbok scrum-half Morne van den Berg, while highly rated youngster Haashim Pead continues to wait in the wings. Chris Smith remains at fly-half to pull the strings, while Erich Cronje starts on the right wing with Angelo Davids in the No. 11 jersey.
There are a few tweaks to the pack, with Ruan Venter returning to the back row and Etienne Oosthuizen recalled at lock. Oosthuizen partners Reinhard Nothnagel in the second row, with Darrien Landsberg dropping to the bench.
]Batho Hlekani, who started at flanker in the victory over Connacht in their last outing, also shifts to the bench to accommodate Venter’s return. Captain Francke Horn and Siba Mahashe complete a powerful and mobile Lions loose trio for what promises to be a bruising battle up front in Dublin.
The visitors also boast a settled and physical front row, with Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye cleared to continue at tighthead as he awaits the outcome of his doping inquiry.
He packs down alongside loosehead SJ Kotze and veteran hooker PJ Botha in a formidable Lions scrum — a unit that will need to be at its best to disrupt the Leinster rhythm.
Lions team to face Leinster:
15 Quan Horn 14 Erich Cronje, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Nico Streyn, 23 Kelly Mpeku.
