The in-form Fidelity Securedrive Lions, who have been on fire at home in the last five rounds, will have their sights set on wrapping up a rewarding six-match winning streak when they line up against Connacht at Ellis Park on Saturday at 16:00 (SA Time). However, they will be careful not to underestimate the Irishmen, who come off a confidence-boosting upset against the DHL Stormers, and who are still well in contention for a quarter-final berth as the pool stages draw to a close.
The Johannesburgers may have won only one more match than the visitors, but they boast the bragging rights as the best team on attack this season, something they will look to build on against Connacht. They will, however, be mindful of the fact that the Irish outfit has won their last three successive away matches, which they too will want to build on before their challenging home match against Munster next.
The Fidelity SecureDrive Lions head into their United Rugby Championship Round 16 clash with a few minor adjustments as they continue to solidify their place in the Race to the Eight at Ellis Park. With the competition firmly poised for a grandstand finish, the remaining games will decide play-off places and home advantage, not to mention Champions Cup qualification. The visitors will fancy their chances on the Highveld against a high-flying Lions outfit who, without a doubt, have played an exciting brand of rugby in recent weeks.
The club’s head coach, Ivan van Rooyen, has made four changes ahead of the weekend, one of them positional, which sees Springbok Ruan Venter join the second row in place of Etienne Oosthuizen, who is nursing a niggle. Youngster Batho Hlekani is elevated from the bench to take Venter’s place at flank.
The highlight of the weekend, however, is that of hooker PJ Botha, who runs out for his 100th match for the Lions across all international club competitions. The 28-year-old Hoërskool Monument old boy, often the unsung hero of the Lions’ pack, enjoys a decade of experience at the franchise, having shadowed the likes of Springbok Malcolm Marx and recently retired Jaco Visagie.
Jack Aungier will become the latest Connacht centurion, after the tighthead prop was named to start in what will be his 100th Connacht appearance. The 27-year-old joined Connacht from Leinster in 2020, and now becomes the 43rd player to reach the landmark milestone for the club.
His inclusion is one of 10 changes from the side that started the win over the Stormers last week. Captain Cian Prendergast, flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton, and backs John Devine, Harry West and Sam Gilbert all retain their places from that game.
There’s a new front row of Peter Dooley and Dylan Tierney-Martin joining Aungier, as well as a new second row partnership of Niall Murray and Joe Joyce. The final change in the pack sees Paul Boyle come in at number 8, with Sean Jansen passed fit for inclusion off the bench.
There’s a new look 9 and 10 with Colm Reilly alongside Jack Carty, while Cathal Forde’s withdrawal due to injury means Hugh Gavin starts at inside centre alongside Devine. In good news, Shane Jennings has been passed fit after missing last week, so he comes in on the left wing.
Teams:
Fidelity Securedrive Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Edward Davids, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Kelly Mpeku
Connacht Rugby: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Harry West, 13 John Devine, 12 Hugh Gavin, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Shayne Bolton.