Africa-Press – South-Africa. Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has named his side to take on the Bulls in the opening United Rugby Championship Jukskei Derby clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The side will be captained by lock Reinhard Nothnagel after Burger Odendaal departed the franchise for Wasps at the end of last season.
New recruit Marius Louw (formerly of the Sharks) slots in at centre, while one of last season’s form wingers, Edwill van der Merwe, will continue on the right wing. Andries Coetzee, who played for Italian side Benetton last season, has returned to the Lions and slots straight into the fullback position.
On the bench, the Lions will be able to call on the services of hooker Jaco Visagie, loose forward Emmanuel Tshituka and scrumhlaf Sanele Nohamba.
Van Rooyen’s side had an up and down campaign last season, finishing 12th on the log. Their opponents made it to the final, losing 18-13 to the Stormers in Cape Town.
Saturday’s referee is AJ Jacobs.
Kick-off at Ellis Park is at 16:05.
Teams
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sithembiso Sithole
Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Zander du Plessis
Bulls
TBA
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