Lions coach names Currie Cup squad
Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named a 35-man squad for the defence of the Currie Cup title they won by going unbeaten through the competition last year.
|||Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named a 35-man squad for the defence of the Currie Cup title they won by going unbeaten through the competition last year.
The Lions get their challenge for back-to-back titles underway this weekend when they host the Pumas at Ellis Park. The match comes just a week after the Super Rugby side lost the Super Rugby final against the Hurricanes in Wellington last Saturday.
The Currie Cup squad is minus the nine Springboks called up to do duty in the Rugby Championship as well as flank Warwick Tecklenburg who is in Japan to play club rugby.
The nine Boks are Warren Whiteley, Faf de Klerk, Ruan Combrinck, Malcolm Marx, Julian Redelinghuys, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel. And following the completion of the Rugby Championship Whiteley, Mapoe, Jantjies and Kriel will take up contracts with Japanese clubs while Mostert will leave the union for a full-time contract in France.
But despite the absence of these stars the Lions still boast a strong squad, packed with Super Rugby experience. Also back in the mix is hooker Robbie Coetzee, while flank Kwagga Smith will join up with the side following his involvement with the BlitzBoks at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The side is likely to be captained by scrumhalf Ross Cronje, but centre Howard Mnisi may also get a look-in.
The Lions’ opening match of the competition kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.
SQUAD
Forwards: Dylan Smith, Corné Fourie, Jacques van Rooyen, Pieter Scholtz, Justin Ackerman, Armand van der Merwe, Ramone Samuels, Robbie Coetzee, MB Lusaseni, Lourens Erasmus, Bobby de Wee, JP du Preez, Cyle Brink, Steph de Wit, Ruaan Lerm, Fabian Booysen, Victor Sekekete, Kwagga Smith
Backs: Ross Cronjé, Dillon Smit, Marco Janse van Vuren, Marnitz Boshoff, Jaco van der Walt, Ashlon Davids, Courtnall Skosan, Anthony Volmink, Selom Gavor, Koch Marx, Sylvian Mahuza, Andries Coetzee, JW Bell, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Howard Mnisi, Stokkies Hanekom, Jacques Nel
Injured but might still play Currie Cup: Jano Venter
Injured and will miss Currie Cup: Ruan Dreyer, Robert Kruger, Harold Vorster
Springboks and Japan: Warwick Tecklenburg, Warren Whiteley, Faf de Klerk, Ruan Combrinck, Malcolm Marx, Julian Redelinghuys, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel - Independent Media