Flanker Jarod Cairns takes over the captaincy of a Lions outfit heading to Kimberley for Saturday’s top-of-the-table Currie Cup clash against defending champions Griquas.
Regular captain Ruan Delport is unavailable due to suspension, handing Cairns the leadership role.
Tiaan Wessels comes into the starting lineup to partner last week’s Man of the Match Dylan Sjoblom in the second row, while Jason Hugo replaces veteran winger Rabz Maxwane on the left wing.
BERGH: All Blacks should have played Griquas
Centre Rynhardt Jonker has recovered from an ankle niggle and will face his former team, with Junior Springbok duo JD Hattingh and Luke Cannon included among the replacements.
Both teams have won two of their opening three matches, with the Lions moving to the summit after a 42-19 victory over the Vodacom Bulls XV, while second-placed Griquas showed their mettle by holding off the Cheetahs for a 24-21 win last week.
Saturday’s encounter also carries recent history, with Griquas edging the Lions in last year’s final at Ellis Park.
LIONS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Keegan Smith, 13 Likhona Finca, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Jason Hugo, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Morne Venter, 7 Jarod Cairns (c), 6 Thando Biyela, 5 Tiaan Wessels, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Morgan Naude.
Bench: 16 Ruan Welman, 17 Cecil Parsons, 18 Ruan Swart, 19 JD Hattingh, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Zian Cilliers, 22 Matthew Coetzee, 23 Luke Cannon.
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
The post Cairns leads Lions into tussle for top spot appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Flanker Jarod Cairns takes over the captaincy of a Lions outfit heading to Kimberley for Saturday’s top-of-the-table Currie Cup clash against defending champions Griquas.
The post Cairns leads Lions into tussle for top spot appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
