Junior Springboks Mahle Sithole and Thando Biyela start for the Lions in Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Ellis Park, with Asad Moos in line for his debut.
Sithole replaces the injured Armand Combrink at hooker, while loose forward Biyela starts at blindside flank in place of Renzo du Plessis, who shifts to the bench.
Former Western Province scrumhalf Moos could make his first appearance in Lions colours after being named among the replacements.
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The Lions are chasing a first win after taking two bonus points from a narrow opening-round defeat to the Cheetahs.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas also have ground to make up following their home loss to the Sharks XV in Nelspruit.
Lions head coach Mzwakhe Nkosi believes there were encouraging signs despite last week’s defeat in Bloemfontein, but expects another tough assignment.
“The result was obviously not what we wanted, but there were some great things we took away from it,” said Nkosi. “The Pumas are a very good outfit and we would need to work on our discipline.”
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LIONS – 15 Latica Nela, 14 Keegan Smith, 13 Likhona Finca, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Zian Cilliers, 8 Morne Venter, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 Ruan Delport (c), 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Morgan Naude.
Bench: 16 Ruan Welman, 17 Cecil Parsons, 18 Ruan Swart, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Matthew Coetzee, 23 Exauce Kevani.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Lions turn to Moos for Pumas tussle appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Junior Springboks Mahle Sithole and Thando Biyela start for the Lions in Saturday’s Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Ellis Park, with Asad Moos in line for his debut.
The post Lions turn to Moos for Pumas tussle appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
