Emirates Lions were dealt a double blow ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday, losing two of their biggest stars to injury.
Midfielder Henco van Wyk and Springbok fullback Quan Horn have both been ruled out of the match with injury, which will come as a massive setback to the Lions ambitions of making the top eight.
With the log precariously poised at the moment, the Lions can’t afford to lose another home game if they want to make the top eight, and are already disappointed after their loss to the Vodacom Bulls last week in Pretoria.
Van Wyk and Horn were both invited to the upcoming Springbok alignment camp and have been a big part of the team’s evolution and success on attack this season.
While the Lions certainly have some able replacements, it is still a setback to lose both these stars for the first of a back-to-back derby home and away series against the Sharks.
Mannie Rass, who has been on the bench in recent times, comes in for Van Wyk, while Tapiwa Mafura replaces Horn at fullback, with the rest of the backline remaining unchanged. On the bench, there is also the welcome of midfielder Rynhardt Jonker from injury to offset some of the losses.
Up front the Lions will welcome back lock Ruben Schoeman, who served a long suspension for a red card he received, and will take his place in the second row for the clash.
JC Pretorius also returns on the flank, replacing Jarod Cairns, who drops to the bench for the game.
Both teams will play in their school socks as part of the URC’s origins round.
Emirates Lions: Tapiwa Mafura; Richard Kriel, Mannie Rass, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe; Gianni Lombard, Morne van den Berg; Francke Horn (captain), Ruan Venter, JC Pretorius, Darrien Landsberg, Ruben Schoeman, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: Jaco Visagie, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Siba Qoma, Nico Steyn, Jarod Cairns, Rynhardt Jonker.