Injuries force two changes to Lions team to face Sharks

The men from Johannesburg ran out comfortable 38-14 victors at Emirates Airline Park last Saturday against their southern rivals.

This week, Springbok Ruan Venter and former Springbok sevens star JC Pretorius have unfortunately been ruled out through injury. Venter suffered a head knock in the victory over the Sharks and is in the midst of his mandatory return-to-play protocol. Meanwhile, Pretorius picked up a niggle in training this week.

Flank Sibabalo Qoma replaces Venter, while Jarod Cairns replaces Venter on the other flank.  

Talented backs Henco van Wyk and Quan Horn have not recovered from the injuries that ruled them out last week.

"New week, new challenge," said Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen.

"We are under no illusion that they are going to be a lot better. Any SA team that's hurting after a loss in a local derby will be more physical and up for the challenge.

"We know that it's going to be a different first 20 to 40 minutes coming our way on Saturday so it's important for us to be better and focus on what we want to do."

Lions - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 WJ Steenkamp, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

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