Lions get their speedster back for Edinburgh clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his matchday squad for their first tour match against Edinburgh in Scotland on Saturday.

Speedster Edwill van der Merwe returns to the Lions starting XV this week.

The Lions Player of the Year missed out on selection against the Stormers last week due to injury, but slots right back into his familiar left-wing position after being cleared to play.

Meanwhile, last weekend’s try-scorers from the replacements bench, Ruan Venter and Henco van Wyk, crack the nod in the starting XV after an immense effort in the latter stages of the game hosted at Ellis Park.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Corne Fourie.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Rynhardt Jonker, 23 Andries Coetzee.

Date: Saturday, October 28

Venue: Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh

Kick-off: 17.00 (16.00 GMT; 18.00 SAST)

Referee: Chris Busby

Assistant referee: Jonny Perriam, Rob McDowell

TMO: Colin Stanley