Dillyn Leyds and Salmaan Moerat are set to feature for La Rochelle against the Lions at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday.
The two Springboks have been named among the replacements by head coach Ronan O’Gara for the opening week clash, which will go ahead following the death of Lions lock Hyron Andrews on Friday.
Leyds captained the French club to an away win against Lyon last week, the veteran outside back scoring his 50th try for Les Maritimes in his 153rd appearance.
Fellow ex-Stormer Moerat is in line to make his debut after joining the former back-to-back European champions this season.
France No 8 Grégory Alldritt will lead the team, and is partnered in the back row by Oscar Jegou and Theo McFarland.
Locks Watisoni Waqanisaravi and Charles Kante Samba will add the grunt behind a formidable front trio of Karl Sorin, Pierre Bourgarit and Alexandre Kaddouri.
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In the backline, Valentin Bouju and Antoine Hastoy start at halfback, with Semi Lagivala and Jules Favre in midfield, while fullback Sacha Elissalde lines up with wingers Tevita Ofa and Davit Niniashvili.
Also due to run out for his maiden club outing is 21-year-old Fijian flyer Avakuki Niusalelekitoga if called upon off a 6-2 bench split.
A heavy Jukskei derby defeat last week ended the Lions’ two-match winning run in the URC, while La Rochelle have won four out of six Top 14 matches this season that puts O’Gara’s men fourth on the log.
The 2022-23 and 2023-24 title-holders are coming off two successive victories in the league as well as boasting a two-from-three return at home to date.
LA ROCHELLE – 15 Sacha Elissalde, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Semi Lagivala, 12 Jules Favre, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Valentin Bouju, 8 Grégory Alldritt (c), 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Watisoni Waqanisaravi, 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Karl Sorin, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Alexandre Kaddouri.
Bench: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Louis Penverne, 18 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Matthias Haddad, 22 Dillyn Leyds, 23 Avakuki Niusalelekitoga.
Photo: @staderochelais/X
The post Boks named on La Rochelle bench appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Dillyn Leyds and Salmaan Moerat are set to feature for La Rochelle against the Lions at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday.
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