The junior Springbok, JD Hattingh, is slated to make his starting debut in the 2026 Currie Cup as the Lions roll out several lineup changes for their upcoming contest against the Boland Cavaliers at Wits Stadium this Friday. Joining him with their first starts are center Exauce Kevani and scrumhalf Layton Horn, while winger Rabz Maxwane makes a comeback in the starting fifteen. The reinforcements don't stop there; flanker Siba Qoma and prop Juan Schoeman are also returning to the fray, coming off injuries to bring seasoned vigor back to the team.
With the playoff chase heating up and only three rounds left, the stakes couldn't be higher. The Lions currently hold the third position on the leaderboard with 12 points, closely followed by Boland who are just a point behind in fifth place. Both teams are looking to rebound from losses in their last outings, setting the stage for a tightly contested matchup.
Captain Jarod Cairns spoke on the importance of the match and the team's mindset after their recent defeat, "We've brushed off last week's setback and are channeling all our energies towards claiming a victory against Boland. It’s about maintaining focus and executing our game plan efficiently."
"We've brushed off last week's setback and are channeling all our energies towards claiming a victory against Boland. It’s about maintaining focus and executing our game plan efficiently."
Last year's semi-final saw the Lions triumph over Boland with a decisive 67-19 victory, which followed a loss to the same team a month earlier. The history adds an extra layer of rivalry and anticipation to the encounter.
The team line-ups are as follows:
- 1. Cecil Parsons
- 2. Mahle Sithole
- 3. Ruan Swart
- 4. Dylan Sjoblom
- 5. JD Hattingh
- 6. Thando Biyela
- 7. Siba Qoma
- 8. Jarod Cairns (c)
- 9. Layton Horn
- 10. Sam Francis
- 11. Rabz Maxwane
- 12. Rynhardt Jonker
- 13. Exauce Kevani
- 14. Keagan Smith
- 15. Gilermo Mentoe
Substitutes:
- 16. Armand Combrinck
- 17. Juan Schoeman
- 18. Conraad van Vuuren
- 19. Marco Ferreira
- 20. Renzo du Plessis
- 21. Asad Moos
- 22. Likhona Finca
- 23. Luke Cannon
As the Lions prepare to tackle their rivals, the return of key players and the addition of fresh legs may just be the catalyst they need to secure a spot in the playoffs. Friday's game promises to be a thrilling showdown filled with strategic plays and intense rivalry.
