Junior Springbok JD Hattingh starts for the first time in the 2026 Currie Cup as the Lions make several changes for Friday’s clash with the Boland Cavaliers at Wits Stadium.
Centre Exauce Kevani and scrumhalf Layton Horn are also handed their run-on debuts, while winger Rabz Maxwane returns to the starting XV.
Flanker Siba Qoma and prop Juan Schoeman add experience, at No 7 and off the bench, respectively, after coming back from injury. Captain Jarod Cairns shifts to the back of the scrum.
With only three rounds left before the playoffs, the Lions sit third on 12 points after two wins from four matches, while Boland are fifth on 11.
Both lost last week, the Lions going down 31-19 to Griquas at Griqua park, with Boland edged 19-12 by the Sharks XV in KwaMashu.
The sides are level in recent meetings, the Lions winning 67-19 in last September’s semi-final after Boland’s 29-10 win in Wellington a month before that.
LIONS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keagan Smith, 13 Exauce Kevani, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Layton Horn, 8 Jarod Cairns (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Ruan Swart, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Cecil Parsons.
Bench: 16 Armand Combrinck, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Likhona Finca, 23 Luke Cannon.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Lions switch up for battle of Wits appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Junior Springbok JD Hattingh starts for the first time in the 2026 Currie Cup as the Lions make several changes for Friday’s clash with the Boland Cavaliers at Wits Stadium.
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