The Emirates Lions have named a strong side, including two of their returning Springboks for their crucial Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff on Friday night.
Springboks Ruan Venter and Quan Horn return from concussion and injury respectively as the Lions picked their strongest side to take on the Welsh team in search of five very valuable points.
Friday Night Lights at Cardiff Arms Park. Check out your Match 23.
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) March 20, 2025
🆚 @Cardiff_Rugby
🗓: Fri, 21 Mar
⏰: 21:35
🏟: Cardiff Arms Park#CARvLIO #ForOurCity @Vodacom #URC | #HitsDifferent#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/t757NYkK0h
Midfielder Henco van Wyk is also back, but from the bench as the Lions kept their midfield that faced the Sharks a fortnight ago.
Also returning to the side is flanker JC Pretorius, who has the achievement of the most poaches in the tournament, and will be a key factor in the loose trio that drives the way the Lions want to play.
Young Layton Horn is on the bench and is set to make his debut for the team, while the bench also boasts Siba Qoma and Jarod Cairns to give it a meaner look, with hooker Franco Marais also getting a run from the reserves.
Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Manuel Rass, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Nico Steyn; Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, JC Pretorius, Darrien Landsberg, Ruben Schoeman, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: Franco Marais, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Siba Qoma, Layton Horn, Jarod Cairns, Henco van Wyk