Lions tweak for Dragons clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions have named their team to face the Dragons in a United Rugby Championship Round Eight clash at Ellis Park on Sunday.

The Lions return to action after a four-week international break.

The starting XV has undergone a couple of changes with one change in the backline and two in the pack.

Wing Rabz Maxwane returns to the match-day 23.

Maxwane's return to the starting XV means that Quan Horn will move to fullback, replacing Springbok Andries Coetzee.

In the pack,  Ruhan Straeuli replaces Ruan Venter at flank.

Ruben Schoeman replaces Veteran Willem Alberts in the second row and Sti Sithole will partner with Ruan Dreyer and Pieter Bother as the new front row.

On the bench, Andre Warner and Asenathi Ntlabakanye make a return for their first appearances of this season’s campaign.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Sti Sithole

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Zander du Plessis.

Date: Sunday, November 27

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 Ireland & UK time, 14.00 GMT)

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa) & Griffin Colby (South Africa)

TMO: Ben Blain (Scotland)