Lions lose a prop ahead of Stormers clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has revealed his team to face the Stormers in a United Rugby Championship Round Seven clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The starting XV is the same as the one that was set to face Glasgow last weekend before the clash was postponed due to a mass outbreak of "gastroenteritis infections” in the Scottish side's camp.
However, there is one forced change on the bench for that clash against the Capetonians.
Loosehead prop Morgan Naude replaces Sithembiso Sithole after the latter suffered a concussion during training earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys acknowledged the quality of the reigning champions but preferred to focus on his side’s preparations ahead of Saturday's encounter.
"There’s no doubt that the Stormers are a quality side, but in saying that our focus this week has been on our plans and how we want to execute on Saturday.
"We control what we can, with a sharp focus on our processes in the build-up."
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Zander du Plessis.
Date: Saturday, October 29
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa) & Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Crouse (South Africa)