Lions coach Ivan Van Rooyen has picked Kade Wolhuter at flyhalf in place of Gianni Lombard for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against Benetton.
After being part of the group on the recent tour, Wolhuter will be tasked to drive his team’s attack against a Benetton side that are also in the race for a play-off spot.
Speaking from the Lions’ training base in Doornfontein earlier this week, the team’s assistant coach, Barend Pieterse, challenged his side to limit costly mistakes and to make the most of opportunities presented to them.
“It’s us making small mistakes, and those small mistakes turn into points for the other team. We can be on the attack in the 22 and we lose the ball, and they go onto to score. A lot of the stuff is in our hands.”
The lineout coach added that playing at home brought a whole new energy and his side must put up big performances playing at Ellis Park in their four remaining fixtures.
“We need to be up, and we know we back ourselves with good performances at home,” he concluded.
Lions bruiser Ruan Venter predicts a fast game on Saturday saying that it’s the kind of game which suites his teammates.
“We know they like to run the ball,” said Venter. “They will give us opportunities that suit our style of play. We are expecting a lot of ball in play and a high-tempo match.
“That style will help them, but it will also suit us at Ellis Park. We are really excited for it,” the Springbok concluded.
In other team news, Zimbabwe Sables international Tapiwa Mafura starts on the right wing in place of the injured Richard Kriel. Youngster Kelly Mpeku provides backline cover on the bench alongside Nico Steyn. Saturday will also see explosive loose-forward Renzo du Plessis potentially get his opportunity against the Italians.
Kick-off is at 13:45.
Lions team
15 Quan Horn 14 Tapiwa Mafura 13 Ryhnhardt Jonker 12Marius Louw 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Kade Wolhuter 9 Morne van den Berg 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Ruan Venter 6 JC Pretorius 5 Darrien Landsberg 4 Ruben Schoeman 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 PJ Botha 1Juan Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Jaco Visagie 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Ruan Delport 20 Sibabalo Qoma 21 Nico Steyn 22 Renzo du Plessis 23 Kelly Mpeku.