Double injury blow for Lions

After their win over Leinster, the Emirates Lions were dealt a heavy blow with the news that top midfielder Henco van Wyk’s season is over, and fullback Quan Horn is unavailable because of injury for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against defending champions Munster on Saturday.

Let's go, Lions, let's go! See you all tomorrow. It's going to be a cracker. 🦁
🆚 Munster
🗓: Sat, 27 Apr
⏰: 17:00
🎟: https://t.co/kqWzZftBGW
🏟 : Emirates Airline Park#LIOvsMUN @vodacom #URC #UnitedWeRise#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/lj4DTRBXvW

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) April 26, 2024

Jordan Hendrikse will reach 50 caps but will run on in the unfamiliar position as fullback, rather than his preferred flyhalf position, filling the void normally given to Horn at the back while there are returns on the bench for Ruan Venter and Gianni Lombard.

Van Wyk underwent an operation on his knee and is likely out for several months while Horn has a shoulder niggle and it is unclear how long he will be out for.

Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys warned earlier this week they can’t be overawed by the quality that Munster bring to the contest.

“For us to have success this weekend we will have to focus on ourselves, focus on our processes and not allow Munster's star power to distract us. If you focus too much on other things, you tend to forget what you need to do so it’s vitally important that we concentrate on us while being aware of what we will be up against,” he said.

The game kicks off at 5pm.

TEAM: Jordan Hendrikse; Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Marius Louw (capt), Edwill van der Merwe; Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg, Francke Horn, Emmanuel Tshituka, JC Pretorius, Ruan Delport, Willem Alberts, Ruan Dreyer, Jaco Visagie, Morgan Naude.

REPLACEMENTS: PJ Botha, JP Smith, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruan Verter, Sibusiso Sangweni, Nico Steyn, Gianni Lombard.