Consistency and experience were key factors when Lions boss Ivan van Rooyen named his team for their fourth round Rainbow Cup clash against the Bulls at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Van Rooyen was forced to make one change to the starting lineup, with Len Massyn coming in for Francke Horn at No 8.
It’s Massyn’s first start of the Rainbow Cup campaign, with Horne missing out after picking up an ankle injury in the Lions’ agonising last minute defeat to the Stormers last weekend.
Jordan Hendrikse gets another start in the No 10 jersey after a very good debut last week, while Burger Odendaal will again lead out the team.
‘Consistency is the main thing for us; consistency in training, consistency in attitude and consistency in team selection,’ said Van Rooyen.
‘We are facing the team at the top of the log and it will be tough. We have a lot of respect for the Bulls.’
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Lions – 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (c), 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Manuel Rass.
Photo: Gallo Images