“Regardless of the result over the weekend, we have to re-focus for the game ahead,” said Emirates Lions captain Warren Whiteley ahead of their clash with the Cell C Sharks.
Emirates Lions will play Cell C Sharks this coming Saturday, April 11 at Emirates Airlines Park.
The main match will kick off at 17:05. Pirates Rugby Club and Union Rugby Club from the South will play against each other in a curtain-raiser fixture at 13:30.
“We strive to improve and be a better team,” said Whiteley.
“We can only control the controllables and the rest we must be prepared for,” said Head coach Johan Ackermann. “I have faith in all my players, the group is now together for the second year, and we can change the front row according to the need. Armand van der Merwe makes a good impact from the bench, but I don’t want him to believe that he is an impact player, we will start him in the beginning line-up when we need to do so. There is still a lot to improve, for instance the scrum and line-out still needs to improve.”
Ackermann has made some changes to the team that beat Vodacom Bulls over the weekend.
In the forwards, Julian Redelinghuys will start at tighthead for this match. Jaco Kriel also returns to the starting line-up at flank.
Additionally, Ackermann has made two changes to his starting backline, with Faf de Klerk starting at scrumhalf. Mark Richards is also set to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut at left wing.
Lohan Jacobs will also celebrate his Vodacom Super Rugby debut should he come off the bench.
Tickets are still available via Lionsrugby.computicket.com from just R40.
The team is:
15. Andries Coetzee
14. Ruan Combrinck
13. Lionel Mapoe
12. Harold Vorster
11. Mark Richards
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Faf de Klerk
8. Warren Whiteley (c)
7. Warwick Tecklenburg
6. Jaco Kriel
5. Franco Mostert
4. Andries Ferreira
3. Julian Redelinghuys
2. Robbie Coetzee
1. Jacques van Rooyen
16. Armand van der Merwe
17. Corne Fourie
18. Ruan Dreyer19. Robert Kruger
20. Derick Minnie
21. Lohan Jacobs
22. Marnitz Boshoff
23. Howard Mnisi
