Big Willem Alberts, the former Springbok “bone collector” will play possibly his final game for the Emirates Lions as captain as he leads them into battle against the DHL Stormers in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match in Cape Town on Saturday.
Let's go Lions let's go! These 23 chaps are on a serious mission. #LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/fZiV9r6bG8
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) May 31, 2024
Alberts, who turned 40 earlier this month, will be retiring at the end of the season and has laughed that “every game is my last game” when referring to that moment, but he will want to cap it off on a high as the Lions look to do the improbable and still qualify for the Investec Champions’ Cup next season.
The Lions need to win the game with a bonus point in order to have any chance of not only sneaking into the top eight of the URC, but the top seven as well. Only seven places are left for Champions’ Cup qualification after the Hollywoodbets Sharks won the EPCR Challenge Cup last weekend to claim one for themselves.
Of course, a bonus point win may not be enough, as other results also need to go their way. They will be keenly watching Munster’s match against Ulster and hoping the latter don’t pick up a bonus point or win the game, while Benetton and Edinburgh face off and the Lions ideal result there would be a draw.
Still, they know they have to make their own luck in the match and for that have made some interesting changes to the same side that stunned Glasgow Warriors with 14 men a fortnight ago.
Jordan Hendrikse partners Erich Cronje in the midfield to continue his transition to his new role in the absence of regular captain Marius Louw, who returns to the bench after struggling with a swollen knee.
That means Sanele Nohamba will play at halfback alongside Morne van den Berg and gives the Lions a number of kicking options out wide. Gianni Lombard started the Glasgow match but the comeback was sparked when Nohamba was on the field.
Richard Kriel is still struggling with a hamstring injury, and thus Rabz Maxwane will continue with the right-wing role he fulfilled against Glasgow.
With flanker Ruan Venter copping a four week suspension after his red card against Glasgow, the Lions have opted for a powerful loose trio with the in-form JC Pretorius, Emmanuel Tshituka and Francke Horn combining.
It could be Tshituka and Hendrikse’s last game for the franchise as they both have confirmed moves to Durban to join the Sharks next season.
Emirates Lions: Quan Horn; Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Jordan Hendrikse, Edwill van der Merwe; Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg; Francke Horn, Emmanuel Tshituka, JC Pretorius, Ruan Delport, Willem Alberts (captain), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Morgan Naude.
Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Dreyer, Etienne Oosthuizen, Reinhard Nothnagel, Izan Esterhuizen, Marius Louw, Gianni Lombard.