Four Boks bolster experienced Golden Lions for quarter-final
April 21 - Two Springboks in the front row, two more on the wing and at flyhalf, and a Bok Sevens captain to lead the side in what the Golden Lions have come up with for the Vodacom Cup quarter-final at Johannesburg Stadium on Friday.
The starting lineup has Springbok loosehead Heinke van der Merwe and Lawrence Sephaka scrumming down with Charles Emslie between them, while young lock David Bulbring gets a deserved run in the starting side.
In the backline Earl Rose and Henno Mentz have international experience.
Former Griquas and Bok Sevens captain Jonathan Mokuena takes over as No 8 and captain from injured Justin Wheeler.
Six players, including Van der Merwe and Rose, played Super 14 in Australasia this season, which gives the Golden Lions a starting team as experienced and talented as any in the Vodacom Cup quarters.
There are also two of this year’s SA Under-20s who’ll start on the bench. Elton Jantjies and Jaco Taute – who played Currie Cup rugby last year –will get a taste of play-offs at senior level on Friday.
The Lions have won five of their seven matches in the competition and ended in second place in the North Section to set up the match against the South’s third-placed team.
Team:
Wian Buys, Wigan Pekeur, Rouan Cloete, Pieter Engelbrecht, Henno Mentz, Earl Rose, Rudy Paige, Jonathan Mokuena (capt), Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Willem Stoltz, David Bulbring, Heinke van der Merwe, Charles Emslie, Lawrence Sephaka.
Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Charl du Plessis, Jacques Lombaard, Johan van Deventer, Alex Kock, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute.
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