Lions stock up on Springbok power for Currie Cup semi-final against Cheetahs

Horn will start at fullback, replacing Tapiwa Mafura, who shifts to the left wing, while Venter takes the place of Siba Qoma, who moves to the bench.

Mafura has the interesting distinction of playing in his third straight semi-final for a third different team. On each of the previous two occasions, his team has gone on to win the Currie Cup, with the Pumas winning in 2022 and the Cheetahs in 2023.

In other team news, Marius Louw returns to the starting lineup, partnering with Rynhardt Jonker in the midfield.

Sanele Nohamba, JC Pretorius, and Kelly Mpeku are among the players set to make an impact from the bench.

The Lions are headed into Saturday's semi-final in a rich vein of form, having won six straight matches, with their only defeat coming earlier in the season against the Sharks.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marous Louw, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude

Replacements: 16 Morne Basson, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Kelly Mpeku

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