Team Announcement: Lions Vs Sharks

February 17, 2023
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Ultimate Rugby

The Lions return to Emirates Airline Park this Saturday for their Round 14 United Rugby Championship encounter against the Sharks. Back home from a challenging four-week European tour, the team from Doornfontein will target Saturday’s outing against the Sharks as an opportunity to collect points towards their journey towards a top 8 finish.

The halfback combination of Morne van den Berg and Gianni Lombard will look to spearhead the Lions’ attack on a familiar surface, with speedster Rabz Maxwane on hand to finish opportunities on the wing. The winger returns to the right wing after missing out on his recent tour due to injury.

Elswhere, Emmanuel Tshituka faces his brother Vincent, a former Lions man, now in the black and white of the Sharks, in what is poised to be an exciting battle for the Congolese brothers.

Ruan Delport has been named on the bench for a possible debut, with Springbok Ruan Dreyer providing cover amongst front row.

Emirates Lions

1. JP Smith
2. PJ Botha
3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye
4. Willem Alberts
5. Ruben Schoeman
6. Jaco Kriel
7. Ruan Venter
8. Emmanuel Tshituka
9. Morne van den Berg
10. Gianni Lombard
11. Edwill van der Merwe
12. Marius Louw
13. Manuel Rass
14. Rabz Maxwane
15. Quan Horn

Replacements
16. Michael van Vuuren
17. Morgan Naude
18. Ruan Dreyer
19. Ruan Delport
20. Sibusiso Sangweni
21. Ruhan Straeuli
22. Sanele Nohamba
23. Rynhardt Jonker

Sharks

Sharks team named to take on the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg in this weekend’s return leg United Rugby Championship has been bolstered by the return of a number of players.

Director of Rugby Neil Powell has selected a six-two split on the bench, an acknowledgement of just how physical he expects this game to be and the confrontation he anticipates from the Lions, and to this end welcomes the return of Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson from injury, the pair playing off the bench and no doubt will bring impetus and energy to the team when they’re given the opportunity to get stuck in.

In changes to the side that played the DHL Stormers in the last game, Dan Jooste replaces Kerron van Vuuren at hooker and Hyron Andrews makes way for Reniel Hugo at lock, in the only changes to the pack.

In the backline, Grant Williams returns to action, with Cameron Wright playing off the bench while Francois Venter takes over from Ben Tapuai who is the other backline player amongst the replacements.

The final change sees Werner Kok back from injury, replacing Marnus Potgieter on the wing.