Lions boss backs last week’s winners for Scarlets URC test

Following their first-up win against Zebre in the United Rugby Championship last weekend, the Lions have named an unchanged match 23 to face Welsh side Scarlets on Friday.

The match will be played at the Parc y Scarlets stadium in Llanelli, with kick off at 8.35pm.

Lions head coach, Ivan “Cash” van Rooyen believes his team will be full of confidence going into the game after a winning start to their campaign last week.

The Lions, with five first half tries, raced into a 38-0 lead shortly after half-time, but failed to score another point as Zebre fought back to score 26 unanswered points in the second half.

“We appreciate that Scarlets will pose a different challenge for us, but we are confident the players selected will once more aim for a positive result,” said Van Rooyen.

“The team has prepared well in the lead-up, with a few productive planning sessions on and off the training field.

“Last week we spoke about momentum and that’s what we would like to maintain from here onwards.”

Lions:

EW Viljoen, Jamba Ulengo, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal (capt), Rabz Maxwane, Jordan Hendrikse, Andre Warner, Francke Horn, Vincent Tshituka, Jaco Kriel, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Ruben Schoeman, Carlu Sadie, Jaco Visagie, Ruan Dreyer.

Bench: PJ Botha, Sti Sithole, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Reinhard Nothnagel, Sibusiso Sangweni, Morne van den Berg, Eddie Fouche, Divan Rossouw.