LIONS STICK TO TRIED AND TESTED AHEAD OF SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN

LIONS STICK TO TRIED AND TESTED AHEAD OF SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN

The Fidelity ADT Lions have stuck to the same match 23 which did duty against the Suzuki Griquas last week.

UNCHANGED STARTING XV AS LIONS WELCOME TABLE-TOPPING GRIQUAS

The Fidelity ADT Lions have stuck to the same match 23 which did duty against the Suzuki Griquas last week.  Having been 37-7 victors on that occasion, the Johannesburg franchise now prepare for a semi-final showdown against the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers at Ellis Park this Saturday. Led by the in-form PJ Botha, the highly anticipated clash between the two sides has a hint of revenge for the Lions after they went down 29-10 in Round 3 of the competition in Wellington.

After a delayed start due to lightening threats in the area last Saturday, Nkosi’s men made their intentions clear against the visiting Griquas with a convincing win which saw them climb to the summit of the Carling Currie Cup log- with that, securing a home semi-final berth, with ambitions of back-to-back home finals.

Commenting ahead of Saturday’s knock-out match, the Lions’ Currie Cup mentor reflected on the previous encounter against the visitors, with a firm belief that they would want a repeat result.

“Boland will be buoyed by their Currie Cup form and after having got a positive result against us in the Boland so no doubt they’ll throw the kitchen sink at us.“

“We’ll be prepared and up for it – it’s a home play-off so we fully want to take advantage of home ground conditions,” he concluded.

Nkosi will rely on the performances of key players who have shown consistent form over the past two rounds of the campaign. Last week’s standout player Angelo Davids is amongst those players who have settled well since making the move to Johannesburg. Not far behind is pivot Chris Smith who has, since his introduction, steered the Lions’ attack with intent and experience.

Kick-off in Johannesburg on Saturday is at 17:00.

Fidelity ADT Lions 23 vs Suzuki Griquas

1.           SJ Kotze

2.           PJ Botha (c)

3.           RF Schoeman

4.           Dylan Sjoblom

5.           Ruan Delport

6.           Jarod Cairns

7.           Ruan Venter

8.           WJ Steenkamp

9.           Nico Steyn

10.         Chris Smit

11.         Angelo Davids

12.         Richard Kriel

13.         Henco van Wyk

14.         Kelly Mpeku

15.         Quan Horn

Replacements

16.         Franco Marais

17.         Juan Schoeman

18.         Sebastian Lombard

19.         Darrien Landsberg

20.         Renzo du Plessis

21.         Haashim Pead

22.         Lubabalo Dobela

23.         Rynhardt Jonker