Bok flank back for Lions against Scarlets

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The Lions have welcomed back stalwart flank Jaco Kriel for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Scarlets in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.

Kriel will make his first URC appearance of the season after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury.

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The 33-year-old is joined in a new-look back row by 24-year-old debutant Darrien Landsberg, who joined the Lions from Currie Cup champions the Pumas.

Emmanuel Tshituka retains his starting role but shifts to No 8 in the absence of Francke Horn.

The only other change to the matchday-23 from the side that beat Dragons last weekend sees star utility forward Ruan Venter named on the bench.

“We know Scarlets are a team who enjoy attacking and keeping ball in play. If you look at their game against the Stormers last week, the last 15-20 minutes featured plenty attack from them which puts teams under huge defensive pressure,” said coach Ivan van Rooyen

“Reflecting on our fixture against them last year, we learnt huge defensive lessons and it’s something we’ve taken stock of ahead of Sunday.”

Lions – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Zander du Plessis.

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images

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Dylan Jack