Schoeman gets debut for Lions

Former SWD Eagles lock Ruben Schoeman makes his first start for the Xerox Golden Lions this weekend where he will partner Springbok Marvin Orie in their Currie Cup match in Cape Town against DHL Western Province on Saturday.

Schoeman won the First division title with the Eagles last season before a low-profile move to Johannesburg where he played in the SuperSport Challenge for the Lions and has been consistent in his performances through the year, finally convincing the coaching staff to give him the start he deserves.

Orie has been released from the Springbok team, where he came off the bench in the 35-17 win over Australia last weekend but didn’t travel with the team to New Zealand.

Team Announcement: DHL Western Province vs Xerox Golden Lions#LionsPride #WPvLIO pic.twitter.com/te70Ami0OT— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) July 25, 2019

Hacjivah Dayimani will run out in his first Currie Cup match this season after recovering from a niggle that he kept him out of the first match against the Pumas.

In the only change to the backline Jan-Louis la Grange gets the nod in midfield.

The Lions also announced that prop Dylan Smith picked up an injury at training (unspecified) and will miss the clash.

Ross Cronje will captain the side.

Xerox Golden Lions: Tyrone Green; Madosh Tambwe, Wandisile Simelane, Jan-Louis la Grange, Stean Pienaar; Shaun Reynolds, Ross Cronje ©; Hacjivah Dayimani, Vincent Tshituka, Marnus Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Ruben Schoeman, Johannes Jonker, Pieter Jansen, Sti Sithole.

Reserves: PJ Botha, Leo Kruger, Jacobie Adriaanse, Wilhelm van der Sluys, James Venter, Len Massyn, Dillon Smit, Manuel Rass.