• Saturday’s match also sees the return of lock Ruben Schoeman to the starting XV with Emmanuel Tshituka and Zander du Plessis promoted from the bench.
• Fullback Andries Coetzee will run out for his 100th first class game for the Lions.
• Sango Xamlashe could make his official tournament debut off the replacements bench.

Emirates Lions have named their match 23 for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Welsh side Ospreys at the Swansea.com stadium. Saturday will be the Johannesburg team’s first game of a three-week tour of the UK which includes matches against Cardiff Rugby and Edinburgh.

A new-look halfback pairing of Sanele Nohamba and Gianni Lombard will look to grab their opportunity as starters in Swansea.

A strong bench consisting of powerhouse forward Ruan Venter, halfback Morne van den Berg and pivot Jordan Hendrikse will be tasked to bring energy in the latter stages.

Speaking earlier this week, Emirates Lions Forwards and Lineouts Coach Albert van den Berg explained how his side have made minor adjustments looking ahead to Saturday.

“We will have to improve on our individual mistakes ahead of Saturday and avoid conceding soft penalties because we know that a team like Ospreys will capitalize on our errors,” he said.

“A big emphasis has been geared towards improving on a few technical aspects especially in our lineout and scrums and to ensure everyone understands and executes their roles accurately,” concluded the former Springbok lineout jumper.

Kick-off is at 20:35 (SA time), Saturday 24 September.

Ospreys

TBA

Emirates Lions

1. Sti Sithole

2. PJ Botha

3. Ruan Dreyer

4. Ruben Schoeman

5. Reinhard Nothnagel ( c)

6. Sibusiso Sangweni

7. Emmanuel Tshituka

8. Franke Horn

9. Sanele Nohamba

10. Gianni Lombard

11. Quan Horn

12. Marius Louw

13. Zander du Plessis

14. Edwill van der Merwe

15. Andries Coetzee

Replacements

16. Jaco Visagie

17. JP Smith

18. Ruan Smith

19. Pieter Jansen van Vuren

20. Ruan Venter

21. Morne van den Berg

22. Jordan Hendrikse

23. Sango Xamlashe