Lions name team to battle Leinster in do-or-die URC affair

The Gautengers have made three changes to their starting XV after their European Challenge Cup defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the previous week.

Rhynardt Rijnsburger will replace veteran Jean-Pierre Smith in the No 1 jersey, while Stean Pienaar will take the place of injured Rabz Maxwane at right wing.

Additionally, Ruan Delport will fill the void left by injured flank Ruan Venter, and Darrien Landsberg will provide lock cover from the bench.

The Lions also reported that Reinhard Nothnagel had successful surgery on his cheekbone after he sustained an injury during a match against Racing 92, and that Henco van Wyk is recovering from a knee injury suffered in a game against Connacht in January.

Currently down in 11th place on the URC table, the Lions still have an outside chance of making the play-offs with only three points separating them from the Sharks, who occupy the final play-off spot in eighth.

A victory against European heavyweights Leinster is a tough ask, but boosting the Lions' chances is that the Irish outfit has sent a second-string team to South Africa after already securing first place on the table.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Delport, 6 Jacobus Kriel, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.

Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Jean-Pierre Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Rynhardt Jonker, 23 Andries Coetzee.