Gqoboka leads youthful Bulls against the Lions

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lizo Gqoboka will lead an exciting Bulls side that will take on the Lions in a Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The Bulls on Tuesday announced a youthful team, with Gqoboka as the captain, that will travel south of the Jukskei for the domestic derby at Ellis Park.

“We are very fortunate to have a number of players with great leadership qualities in the Bulls squad, and Lizo has been one of those senior players who have always provided leadership in both the Currie Cup and the URC.

"We look forward to him, alongside Stedman Gans as vice-captain, leading this exciting team on Wednesday,” said Bulls head coach, Gert Smal.

“We are pleased that we are able to give a few of our more youthful players an opportunity this week, be it in the starting lineup or on the bench.

“We have no doubt that we have a tough challenge ahead of us against a Lions team that will be motivated and will be tough opponents on Wednesday night.

"We will need to be at our best and will need to execute the plans we have been working hard on in the build-up to the match well.”

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Werner Gouws, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).

Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Delport 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 James Verity-Amm

Date: Wednesday, March 23

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 20.00 (18.00 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant Referees: Paul Mente, Local

TMO: Egon Seconds