The stage is set at Ellis Park this Saturday where the spotlight will shine on Morné van den Berg, also known as ‘Krappie’, as he gears up for his 100th match with the Lions against Edinburgh. Starting his stint with the Johannesburg squad in 2019, van den Berg has evolved into a pivotal player, hitting this career milestone during a critical phase of the Lions’ season as they initiate a four-game stretch on their own turf that might just steer their playoff dreams.
The Lions are not just celebrating van den Berg’s century of games; they're also welcoming back the muscle of Ruan Venter and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, both rejoining the team after personal setbacks. With Venter out from concussion protocols and Ntlabakanye back from family bereavement, their return is timely. Meanwhile, tactical shifts see Erich Cronje switching to the left wing, covering for the sidelined Kelly Mpeku, with Angelo Davids continuing on the right after a standout performance.
"We are really proud of winning the SA Shield. But our work’s not done yet. In the last few seasons, we were dependent on other results going our way to qualify,"
said Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen, emphasizing the ongoing challenges despite recent victories.
Van Rooyen highlighted the set-piece as a crucial factor for this weekend’s clash. "We definitely feel we need to be more consistent in the scrums," he remarked, pointing out the expected fierce competition in the forwards, especially with Edinburgh’s power players ready to rumble.
The Lions have loaded their bench with potential game-changers like Batho Hlekani, Renzo du Plessis, and Haashim Pead, aiming to keep the intensity high throughout the match.
As the URC chase heats up, every match and move counts, making this weekend’s game a must-watch. The Lions line-up is as follows:
LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze. Bench: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Richard Kriel.
2,100 posts
The stage is set at Ellis Park this Saturday where the spotlight will shine on Morné van den Berg, also known as ‘Krappie’, as he gears up for his 100th match with the Lions against Edinburgh. Starting his stint with the Johannesburg squad in 2019, van den Berg has evolved into a pivotal player, hitting this career milestone during a critical phase of the Lions’ season as they initiate a four-game stretch on their own turf that might just steer their playoff dreams.
The Lions are not just celebrating van den Berg’s century of games; they're also welcoming back the muscle of Ruan Venter and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, both rejoining the team after personal setbacks. With Venter out from concussion protocols and Ntlabakanye back from family bereavement, their return is timely. Meanwhile, tactical shifts see Erich Cronje switching to the left wing, covering for the sidelined Kelly Mpeku, with Angelo Davids continuing on the right after a standout performance.
"We are really proud of winning the SA Shield. But our work’s not done yet. In the last few seasons, we were dependent on other results going our way to qualify,"
said Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen, emphasizing the ongoing challenges despite recent victories.Van Rooyen highlighted the set-piece as a crucial factor for this weekend’s clash. "We definitely feel we need to be more consistent in the scrums," he remarked, pointing out the expected fierce competition in the forwards, especially with Edinburgh’s power players ready to rumble.
The Lions have loaded their bench with potential game-changers like Batho Hlekani, Renzo du Plessis, and Haashim Pead, aiming to keep the intensity high throughout the match.
As the URC chase heats up, every match and move counts, making this weekend’s game a must-watch. The Lions line-up is as follows:
LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze. Bench: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Richard Kriel.