Lions reshuffle loose trio for Bulls

The Emirates Lions have been forced into a few changes ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

With veteran flanker Jaco Kriel straining a hamstring this past week, and prop Ruan Dreyer getting a three week suspension for his illegal clean-out against the Glasgow Warriors, the Lions have had to reshuffle their loose trio and add an extra reserve prop to the side.

Ruan Venter moves to flank with Willem Alberts returning at lock in the reshuffle.

Otherwise the side is the same that beat Glasgow last weekend as the Lions look to build on the momentum they took from the victory.

Jukskei derby 2?3?
@Vodacom | #URC | #UnitedWeRise#LionsPride?? pic.twitter.com/CMi8rhIf6c

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) March 3, 2023

They still haven’t beaten a fellow South African franchise is more than a year and coach Ivan van Rooyen will be hoping that changes this weekend.

Dreyer received a three-week suspension after facing a disciplinary panel earlier this week after he received a red card during the game.

“After an act of foul play against Glasgow Warriors player No 21 (Thomas Gordon), referee Adam Jones showed the Player a Red Card in the 65th minute of the game under Law 9.12 – A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking,” a URC statement said.

“ In the Player’s responses to the Panel overseeing the disciplinary process (Tommy Dalton, Chair (Ireland), Gordon Black (Ireland) & Nigel Williams (Wales)), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card. The Panel found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The Player received 50 per cent mitigation due to the players exemplary discipline record, no injury to the Glasgow Warriors player and his conduct through the hearing.

“ Should the Player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.”

Emirates Lions team: Quan Horn; Rabz Maxwane, Mannie Rass, Marius Louw (capt), Edwill van der Merwe; Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba; Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ruben Schoeman, Willem Alberts, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, JP Smith.

Replacements: Morne Brandon, Rhynhardt Rijnsburger, Ruan Smith, Ruan Delport, Jarod Cairns, Morne van den Berg, Rynhardt Jonker, Andries Coetzee

Fixtures Ruan Dreyer is unavailable for:

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions 4 March 2023, Vodacom URC

Fidelity ADT Lions v DHL Western Province 11 March 2023, Currie Cup

Airlink Puma v Fidelity ADT Lions 17 March 2023, Currie Cup

Ruan Dreyer will be available to play as of midnight March 19.