Emirates Lions qualify for play-offs
The Lions will take on the Southern Kings on Friday.
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THE Emirates Lions have quietly qualified for the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby play-offs, after beating the Cell C Sharks last Saturday (July 2).
“After the match we didn’t even realise that we had already qualified for the play-offs,” said Jaco Kriel, who captains the side since regular captain Warren Whiteley sustained a shoulder injury, in the test match between the Springboks and Ireland.
“We focus only on the upcoming matches, but we are very excited to know that we are in the play-offs. Our attention is now focused on playing the Southern Kings.”
Emirates Lions still have two matches left in the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby competition, the one against the Southern Kings, before they take on the Jaguars on Saturday, July 16, at the José Amalfitani Stadium, in the Liniers neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In the meantime, Emirates Lions head coach Johan Ackermann named the team who will play against the Southern Kings this coming Friday, July 8, at Emirates Airlines Park.
The match will start at 19:00.
The coaches picked the same side as last weekend for the clash against the team from Port Elizabeth.
The most capped Emirates Lions player in this match is Elton Jantjies (66), followed by Lionel Mapoe (58) and captain Jaco Kriel (51).
The other members of the team are: Dylan Smith (12), Malcolm Marx (16), Julian Redelinghuys (41), Andries Ferreira (18), Franco Mostert (43), Warwick Tecklenburg (41), Ruan Ackermann (12), Faf de Klerk (45), Courtnall Skosan (32), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (13), Ruan Combrinck (41), Andries Coetzee (38), Armand van der Merwe (34), Corne Fourie (35), Jacques van Rooyen (26), Lourens Erasmus (4), Cyle Brink (10),
Ross Cronje (43), Howard Mnisi (27) and Sylvian Mahuza (4).