The Lions have received a timely boost to their Currie Cup campaign with the news that Bok centre Waylon Murray is fit to play again. The big Westvillian has been on the sidelines since picking up an injury on the eve of his side’s Super Rugby tour.
Coach John Mitchell today named his side to face Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
Murray’s return is offset by the loss of fullback Jaco Taute, who is expected to be out for 3 weeks or so with an injury picked up against the Pumas. The reliable Michael Killian takes over in the number 15 jersey, while there is an unforced change at right wing with Deon van Rensburg taking over from Dylan des Fountain. Murray replaces Alwyn Hollenbach, a try-scorer last week, at outside centre and renews a blossoming partnership with captain Doppies le Grange, also a Natal schoolboy. Hollenbach drops to the bench this week, with des Fountain falling out of the 22 altogether after a less-than-inspiring performance last weekend.
The starting forward pack remains unchanged, with Pat Cilliers again picked to start at loosehead prop. A change in the number 17 jersey sees JC van Rensburg take over the reserve propping duties from young Caylib Oosthuizen.
Golden Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies La Grange (captain), 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pat Cilliers
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Dries van Schalkwyk, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Hein Cronje, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach
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this looks like a back line without any attacking options … i would lie if i said i was not a very worried man ….
Sportsbet has Lions and Kwasse at even odds at the moment.
A shrewd multiple for the weekend might be Kwasse and FS.
“Michael is in for Jaco who is a week away from playing as he’s recovered quicker than we expected,” said John Mitchell.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/John-Mitchell-not-a-worried-man-20110720
ok so it seems he will be back in a weeks time …
Can the Lions finally delivier the goods though?
Griquas to walk over the Lions in this one.
This Lions team should be good enough but after last weekend’s performance I’m not so sure.
Im struggling to see who will spark this Lions side into action….Doppies can only do so much!
@SheldonK (Comment 7) :
exactly the problem i have
Taute Hollenbach and Des Fountain gives that back line a very attacking look . they didnt have the best game against the Pumas but nobody in that team did …
now we have no attacking players . not gonna score many tries with that back line . only way we will win is if Francis has a similar game to the one he had against the Pumas … other wise were in for a long day …
The Lions will have to dominate upfront if we want to win, the backline not the most exciting but Vermaak Killian and Murrey can score from anywhere on the field. We have the players they just have to gel GO LIONS