The Emirates Lions open their EPCR Challenge Cup account against Welsh outfit Ospreys this Sunday at the Swansea.com Stadium. Kick-off is at 17:15 (SA time)

Head Coach Ivan van Rooyen has tweaked his match day squad ahead of Sunday’s encounter which sees Nico Steyn lead the side from the scrumhalf position. Talented flyhalf Sam Francis makes his international debut for the franchise after impressive performances in junior and senior domestic competitions in recent months. Another Junior Springbok in the form of loosehead prop SJ Kotze is also in line to make his international debut from the replacements bench.

Speaking earlier in the week, assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys is aware of the challenge his side will face on Sunday against a team that’s had the better of the Johannesburg franchise in recent meetings.

“It’s unfortunate that we don’t have favourable experiences with the Ospreys, more often than not they are unfavourable experiences. We are expecting it to be a physical game, with difficult conditions in Swansea and Europe and something for us to work on is making sure our handling in the conditions is better.

“They are a physical and tough team, and we expect a difficult kicking game,” the former Springbok prop concluded.

Elsewhere, lock Darrien Landsberg makes a return from injury to partner Etienne Oosthuizen in the second row. Ruhan Straeuli, Sanele Nohamba and Marius Louw are amongst the impact players available on the bench.

Emirates Lions Match 23                                                                                                                

1.           Morgan Naude

2.           Franco Marais

3.           Conraad van Vuuren

4.           Etienne Oosthuizen

5.           Darrien Landsberg

6.           JC Pretorius

7.           Izan Esterhuizen

8.           WJ Steenkamp

9.           Nico Steyn (c)

10.         Sam Francis

11.         Rabz Maxwane

12.         Rynhardt Jonker

13.         Erich Cronje

14.         Richard Kriel

15.         Tapiwa Mafura

Replacements

16.         Jaco Visagie

17.         SJ Kotze

18.         RF Schoeman

19.         Ruan Delport

20.         Renzo du Plessis

21.         Ruhan Straeuli

22.         Sanele Nohamba

23.         Marius Louw