Lions boosted by Venter, Van Wyk return

The Emirates Lions have received a selection boost with the timely return of Springbok flanker Ruan Venter and SA A midfielder Henco van Wyk from injury ahead of their must-win EPCR Challenge Cup match against Welsh side Dragons in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Lions, who have only one win from three in their pool games, need to win the match to progress to the Round of 16.

The Lions are level on points with the Dragons, and beat the Welsh side in Vodacom United Rugby Championship action overseas earlier this season and will be confident of doing it again to advance to the next round.

There are several other changes to the side as well, with Van Wyk replacing Erich Cronje while Venter replaces Izan Esterhuizenon the flank.

We back at Emirates Airline Park tomorrow for the first time this year. Come through!
🆚@dragonsrfc
🗓: Sat, 18 Jan
⏰: 17:15
🎟️: https://t.co/hyOqaKYMX5
🏟: Emirates Airline Park#ForOurCity#ChallengeCupRugby#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/9o60bpAwVP

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) January 17, 2025

PJ Botha comes into the hooker role in the place of Jaco Visagie, while JC Pretorius is back int the starting line-up at the expense of WJ Steenkamp.

Springbok Morne van der Berg returns to the halfback position to partner young Sam Francis while Rynhardt Jonker is in at 12, replacing last week’s captain Marius Louw and Tapiwa Mafura replaces Kelly Mpeku on the wing.

Assistant coach Barend Pieterse says despite last week’s disappointing result in France, the team remains in high spirits ahead of Saturday.

“The mood in the camp is really good after a tough review session (of the Montpellier game). If you ask any player they will tell you it was a really tough and straightforward review and they are looking forward to making things right,” admitted Pieterse.

“We haven’t done ourselves any favours, not just in this past weekend’s game, but in our other EPCR games as well, in not picking up more points. So we are focused on getting our five points this weekend and then we will see what happens,” he concluded.

Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Tapiwa Mafura, Henco van Wyk, Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe; Sam Francis, Morne van den Berg; Francke Horn (captain), Ruan Venter, JC Pretorius, Darrien Landsberg, Etienne Oosthuizen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Juan Schoeman.

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, SJ Kotzse, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Jarod Cairns, Nico Steyn, Gianni Lombard, Manny Rass.