The former Blitzbok star JC Pretorius makes his 50th international appearance as the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions make history in their first ever playoff fixture since joining the competition back in 2021. Ivan van Rooyen’s men come up against Irish giants Leinster at the Aviva in Dublin this Saturday at 21:00 (SA Time), a team they faced three weeks ago in the round-robin stages at the same venue.
The Lions enter Saturday’s quarter final with a settled 23 after injury concerns threatened stability last week, but those however have been overcome. Skipper Francke Horne and centre Henco van Wyk have been cleared and are fit to face Leo Cullen’s Leinster.
Scrumhalf Nico Steyn starts in place of the injured Morne van den Berg who is recovering from a bicep injury, while Erich Cronje returns to the left wing after missing out against Munster. Experienced hooker Franco Marias returns to the fold as an impact player alongside Rynhardt Jonker and Haashim Pead.
With their recent defeat in the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux Bègles last week still fresh in the minds, Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys believes the reining URC champions remain a quality outfit. But the former Springbok prop simplified the approach in what is expected to be a physical encounter in the Irish capital on the weekend.
“The team that goes forward when contact takes place has a better chance, whether it’s attack, defence or set piece,” he said.
“We know what we want to achieve this weekend, and we believe if we get that right, it will give us a good chance,” he concluded.
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions: 1. SJ Kotze, 2. PJ Botha, 3. Sebastian Lombard, 4. Reinhard Nothnagel, 5. Darrien Landsberg, 6. Siba Mahashe, 7. Batho Hlekani, 8. Francke Horn (c), 9. Nico Steyn, 10. Chris Smith, 11. Erich Cronje, 12. Richard Kriel, 13. Henco van Wyk, 14. Angelo Davids, 15. Quan Horn. Replacements: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Eddie Davids, 18. RF Schoeman, 19. Ruan Delport, 20. Siba Qoma, 21. JC Pretorius (50th), 22. Rynhard Jonker, 23. Haashim Pead.