The Lions have made four changes to their match 23 for Saturday’s Vodacom URC clash against Connacht at Ellis Park.
The barnstorming Batho Hlekani starts at blindside flank with Ruan Venter moving to the second row to replace the injured Etienne Oosthuizen.
The bench sees returns for hooker Morné Brandon and utility forward Siba Qoma.
MORE: Centurion Botha draws inspiration from Marx
Starting hooker PJ Botha will earn his 100th cap for the Lions.
“When I was still at school, I thought it would be nice to maybe play one or two matches for a franchise in an international competition,” said the 28-year-old Hoërskool Monument old boy.
“To now reach 100 is incredible. The time has flown. It’s a privilege for me to reach this milestone, and I’m grateful that it will happen in a home match.”
ALSO: Connacht hunting rare SA double
Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys says the Lions know what to expect from Connacht, who beat the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
“We know what they will bring. We know their game model. It’s not easy to defend or attack against it, but if we do what we need to do well, I am sure there will be opportunities.”
The high-flying Lions sit fourth on the URC standings, with Connacht ninth – a point behind the eighth-placed Bulls.
LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronjé, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Bench: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Kelly Mpeku.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
The post Lions back Batho after injury setback appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
