After all the hype of former SA under-20 flyhalf Kade Wolhuter travelling with the Emirates Lions, it was a surprise that he wasn’t selected in the match day 23 for their EPCR Challenge game against Montpellier on Saturday night.
Wolhuter is on loan from the Stormers to the Lions but hasn’t played for them because of injury, and it was hoped that this would be the final signal that he is ready to get back onto the field.
But alas, it seems he will have to wait a bit longer before he can start staking a more permanent claim to a spot in the team.
Instead, with most of the first-choice team at home, Jordan Hendrikse will start at 10 with Gianni Lombard as the backup flyhalf.
Jaco Visagie leads the team from hooker as the two top teams in pool two of the Cup face off against each other.
Conrad van Vuuren will start in the front row for the first time in Lions colours after being a journeyman for several other clubs while winger Stean Pienaar returns to the squad after a prolonged absence in the number 14 jersey.
Montpellier, meanwhile, have named a strong team including former Springbok Jan Serfontein, who will captain the side and double World Cup winner Cobus Reinach. Another Bok Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg is also in their side.
Teams
Montpellier: Julien Tisseron; George Bridge, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Jan Serfontein (captain), Masi Dakuwaqa; Paolo Garbisi, Cobus Reinach; Mael Perrin, Clement Doumenc, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Bastien Chalureau, Tyler DuGuid, Lasha Macharashvili, Vano Karkadze, Gregory Fichten.
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Enzo Forletta, Henry Thomas, Paul Willemse, Cantin Foguet, Louis Foursans-Bourdette, Auguste Cadot, Thomas Darmon.
Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee; Stean Pienaar, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Boldwin Hansen; Jordan Hendrikse, Nico Steyn; Hanru Sirgel, Izan Esterhuizen, JC Pretorius, Darrien Landsberg, Etienne Oosthuizen, Conrad van Vuuren, Jaco Visagie (captain), Morgan Naude.
Replacements: Morne Brandon, Corne Fourie, Ruan Smith, Raynard Roets, Ruhan Straeuli, Travis Gordon, Johan Mulder, Gianni Lombard.