Lions reveal their playmaker for Dragons clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face the Dragons in their United Rugby Championship Round Four clash in Newport on Sunday.

Van Rooyen has kept the changes to a minimum as they look to build momentum after their victories over Ulster and Edinburgh in Johannesburg.

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In the backline, Nico Steyn takes over the No.10 jersey from the injured Kade Wolhuter.

Meanwhile, Franco Marais holds onto the No.2 jersey this week with PJ Botha getting the No.16 jersey on the bench.

The Lions are currently sixth in the standings after getting a maximum of 10 points from their first two games.

Popular tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye makes his 50th international appearance for the franchise.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Nico Steyn, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Henco van Wyk.

Date: Sunday, October 13

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport

Kick-off: 14.30 (15.30 SAST; 13.30 GMT)

Referee: Fillipo Russo (Italy)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Rhys Jones (Wales)

TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

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