Lions to beat the odds

EMIRATES Lions are once again out to beat the odds when they meet the Highlanders in the semi-finals of the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

The local team has become the last team in the competition from South Africa to keep their composure and advance in admirable fashion to the semi’s.

The match will be played at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, July 30, and starts at 15:00.

Lions coaching staff made no surprises when announcing the team set to make history as the first Lions team in a semi-final of Super Rugby since the union became a franchise on their own.

According to Johan Ackermann, head coach of the Lions, they are well aware of what this team from New Zealand will bring to them at home. “They are playing well and showed character by being in the semi’s. We all know they are the most travelled team in this competition this year, but they managed to be here (in the semi-finals).”

Captain Warren Whiteley who picked up a calve injury on Monday will together with Ross Cronjé undergo a late fitness test after announcing the final team. In the meantime Dillon Smit has been named as a possible replacement if Cronjé does not recover.

Ticket sales are well underway and according to the Lions more than 30 000 have been sold already.

The Emraites Lions team is:

Dylan Smith

Malcolm Marx

Julian Redelinghuys

Andries Ferreira

Franco Mostert

Jaco Kriel©

Warwick Tecklenburg

Ruan Ackermann

Faf De Klerk

Elton Jantjies

CourtnallSkosan

Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Lionel Mapoe

Ruan Combrinck

Andries Coetzee

Armand van der Merwe

Corné Fourie

Jacques van Rooyen

Lourens Erasmus

Steph de Witt

Dillon Smit

Howard Mnisi

Jaco van der Walt