New recruit Zeilinga on the bench for strong Lions squad

The Lions’ new flyhalf recruit Fred Zeilinga has been included on the bench for the side to face the Cell C Sharks in their Kick Off Series game on Saturday afternoon.

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Zeilinga has been included as back-up for the experienced Bok Elton Jantjies, who returns to the side for the first time since the Currie Cup semifinal.

Jantjies’s return means that Tiaan Swanepoel, whose monster boot has been guiding the team in Jantjies’s absence, returns to his normal fullback position.

Winger Ngia Selengbe gets a chance after starring from the bench against the EP Elephants while more experience returns with the midfield taking a familiar look in Burger Odendaal and Wandisile Simelane, while Courtnal Skosan is back on the wing.

Willem Alberts returns to the engine room, while Carlu Sadie slots in at tighthead. Ruan Dreyer will cover at loosehead after Dylan Smith left the Lions with immediate effect this week.

“Ruan has always been an option for us at loosehead. With Dylan away and Sti not recovered yet, we need him to play there. He will bring us a lot of experience,” Van Rooyen said.

LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS:

Tiaan Swanepoel; Ngia Selengbe, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal, Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies (capt), André Warner; Francke Horn, Vincent Tshituka, MJ Pelser, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Willem Alberts, Carlu Sadie, Jan-Henning Campher, Ruan Dreyer. 

Replacements: PJ Botha, Nathan McBeth, Jannie du Plessis, Reinhard Nothnagel, Sibusiso Sangweni, Ross Cronjé, Fred Zeilinga, Dan Kriel.