The Lions team to face Russia this Saturday in the first match of the Lions Challenge has been announced, with Johan Ackermann giving a host of new faces the chance to impress him.
Nomad flyhalf Lionel Cronje will start his first game for the Lions, linking up with Michael Bondesio in the halfbacks. JC Janse van Rensburg will lead the side against the 20th ranked Russians hoping to prepare themselves to take up the reigns as the fifth South African Super Rugby team again in 2014.
Bulls loosie Warwick Tecklenburg gets his first start in Lions colours, making the move across the Juksei at the end of last season, after an impressive start to his playing career at the Bulls. The centre combination of Harold Vorster and Stokkies Hanekom is an unknown quantity, but they are surrounded by Lions Anthony Volmink, Deon Helberg and the talented Andries Coetzee at fullback.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (c).
Reserves: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Jacques Kotze, 19 Hugo Kloppers, 20 Claude Tshibidi, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Ruhan Nel.
Tweet
Jaco Kriel?
Can I be the first to say it?
If what you want to say is what I suspect you want to say then go right ahead and say it.
@Die Kriek (Comment 3) : what a KAK team
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Well I would not have used ‘kak’ since the owner of the website tends to frown upon the use of crude language (sometimes). But I understand in some situations ‘kak’ is unaviodable
So who is going to put money on the Russians to win this?
@Die Kriek (Comment 5) : he is quite lenient at other times though 🙂
Absolutely fantastic to see Lionel starting a game at 10, don’t think he’s started in over a year
Give the team a chance just like we are giving the Kings one.
@Honey Badger (Comment 9) : I’m giving them every chance to beat Russia, dude 🙂
😆
@Talent (Comment 1) :
he is recovering from an injury and is given an extra week of rest … or thats the official statement …
Finally some local rugby to look forward to….I’m starving for some rugby
Penalty Lionel Cronje
Lions 3
Russia 0
3min
Lions get a kickable penalty, go for the line out
But knocks on at the line out
Penalty Lionel Cronje
Lions 6
Russia 0
11min
Try Deon Helberg
Converted L. Cronje
Lions 13
Russia 0
23min
Wow sounds as if the Russians is ea really good team.
Penalty Russia
Russia 3
Lions 13
38min
Penalty try for the Lions of a scrum
Converted
Lions 20
Russia 3
Halftime
Penalty Russia
Russia 6
Lions 20
44min
Another penalty try for the Lions, they are dominating the scrums
Converted
Lions 27
Russia 6
48min
Try Russia no12
Converted from the corner
Russia 13
Lions 27
50min
Geees! The ref is turning a nice friendly into a droopy game to watch!
Try Roodt
Converted
Lions 34
Russia 13
55min
Sorry that the first Van Der Merwe the Russians meet is Lourens!LOL
Try Warwick Tecklenburg
Converted Boshoff
Lions 41
Russia 13
61min
Try Boshoff
Conversion missed
Lions 46
Russia 13
72min
Try Ruan Nel
Conversion missed
Lions 51
Russia 13
Full Time
Go lions, the only unbeaten team for 2013 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 39) : only cause they the only SA team to play against the mighty Mother Russia. Going to be a another story in their next few games.
@JD (Comment 40) : and in your expert opinion , do you think the Lions realize that ?
i can somehow see that beating Russia will create a false sense of security ….
@Zibbie (Comment 41) :
