Promising halfback Morne van den Berg has been named to replace the injured Dillon Smit at scrumhalf in the only change to the Lions starting line-up for their Super Rugby Unlocked match against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
Van den Berg gets deserved berth
Van den Berg shone in moments during the Super Fan Saturday contest proving to be an asset in defence as well as attack.
Smit dislocated his shoulder and will most likely miss the remainder of the local season as a result of injury rehabilitation.
The nippy Van den Berg gets a deserved starting berth following his solid performance last week as an early replacement for Smit.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has included Springbok halfback Ross Cronje as a replacement for Smit in the only new addition to the travelling squad of 25.
Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be leading the visiting team against a strong Stormers team spearheaded by Springbok flank and skipper Siya Kolisi.
The Joburg side is playing away from home for a second week in a row following their nail-biting 19-16 loss last week to the Sharks in Durban.
Jantjies will be left to shake off the effects of slamming what would have been a match-winning penalty goal against the Kings Park uprights.
The Lions have the advantage of an extra week of match practice and will be buoyed by their forwards ability to hold their own against the Sharks last week.
Kick-off is at 19:00, and the action will be televised on the SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels on DStv.
SA Rugby notice: Due to strict COVID-19 regulations, no spectators will be allowed inside the stadium on Saturday – that includes general seating and in the suites.
SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED- LIONS MATCHDAY SQUAD VS STORMERS
Starting XV: 15 EW Viljoen; 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Rabz Maxwane; 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Morné van den Berg; 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements (from): Jan-Henning Campher, Dylan Smith, Wiehahn Herbst, Wilhelm van der Sluys, MJ Pelser, Hacjivah Dayimani, Ross Cronjé, Gianni Lombard, Wandisile Simelane, Ruan Dreyer.
Match information – Stormers vs Lions
Date: Saturday 17 October
Time: 19h00
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds, Aimee Barrett-Theron
Television Match Official: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
TV: SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby