Franco van der Merwe
Elton Jantjies
The Lions have announced their side to take on the Toyota Cheetahs in their final Round 19 Super Rugby match.
Elton Jantjies is selected at flyhalf and Franco van der Merwe gets given a fitting farewell as he runs out for the last time for the Lions before heading overseas.
Lions team:
Rugby365 reports that Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has promoted Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies to the starting line-up ahead of newly-capped Bok, Marnitz Boshoff.
Jantjies will play his 50th and final match for the Lions before leaving for Japan thanks to a special gesture by coach Ackermann.
In the forwards Ackermann has opted for consistency, making no changes to the group after last weekend’s 34-17 win over the Rebels.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Lionel Mapoe will start in the place of Deon van Rensburg, while Andries Coetzee comes in at fullback having returned from injury.
Mapoe will also celebrate 50 Super Rugby caps on Saturday.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (Captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Replacments: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Courtnall Skosan.
Date: Saturday 12 July
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-Off: 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Stuart Berry, Jaco van Heerden
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Franco van der Merwe:
The Lions are determined to give their veteran Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe a fitting farewell on Saturday.
Van der Merwe still faces a fitness test on Thursday to test an injured shoulder, but Lions coach Johan Ackermann said they are hopeful that he will play in the season-finale against the Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Saturday – before heading to Ireland next month.
Van der Merwe has signed a two-year contract with Irish province Ulster for the 2014–15 Pro12 and European seasons.
If he passes his fitness test Van der Merwe would make his 99th Super Rugby appearance, which include 16 matches for the Sharks last year.
Ackermann said there were some “bumps and bruises” in the wake of their 34-17 triumph over the Rebels last week – a record sixth win this season.
Wing Deon van Rensburg will definitely miss the game against the Cheetahs with a rib injury.
And Van der Merwe is also doubtful, with a shoulder injury.
“He will face a fitness test on Thursday to see if he can take contact,” Ackermann said of the 31-year-old second row forward.
All the other players who took knocks in the win over the Rebels last week should be fit to face the Cheetahs.
Asked about Van der Merwe’s imminent departure, the coach said that is why they are giving him as much time as possible to recover.
“Maybe we can pad him up, or do something, to protect the AC and give him the chance,” he said.
“It would be great for him to play his final game at Ellis Park before he heads to Ireland.”
Van der Merwe was earlier this year ruled out for six months with an ankle injury and only returned to the playing field ahead of last week’s win over the Rebels.
Having represented the Lions in Super Rugby and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup, as well as previously having played for the Leopards, Van der Merwe has been included in several Springbok squads since June 2012.
He finally made his debut in the 2013 Rugby Championship match against New Zealand.
Van der Merwe also played for South Africa Under 21 (2004) and the Emerging Springboks (against the British and Irish Lions in 2009).
I predict that vd Merwe won’t pass the fitness test.
I also CANNOT see the logic in giving Jantjies a start for “sentimental” reasons.
THIS IS PROFESSIONAL SPORT. There is no place for sentiment.
If he starts, or if he comes on with 10 seconds to play, Jantjies will still get the 50th cap.
Ironically, the Lions have had their best season since the break up of the Cats, but if they fail to win on Sat’, they STILL end up LAST on the SA Conference.
This is a direct consequence of not getting enough bonus points.
In many instances they just seemed too impatient when trying to go for the 4th try, on MANY occasions they just had no penetration in the back line, and at other times they just seemed to lack experience in the defensive situations and let in easy points to take the opposition beyond the 7 point range.
MANY Lions fans will laud the efforts of this “inexperienced” bunch of players with very few stars, and I suppose that we can look at the season and say it ended a bit higher than expectations, but in reality, when does a team say, “we’re now experienced”?
When does a management stop accepting mediuocrity as acceptable?
When does a coach stop handing out starts for sentimental reasons?
Professional Sport is a business. It’s time the Lions started treating it as such. Until they do they’ll forever just make up the numbers in competitions such as this.
I expect the Cheetahs to win comfortably on Saturday. I hope not, but my head tells me they must.
1 @ Scrumdown:
100% agree, doesn’t make sense to drop Boshoff just to say farewell to Jantjies. Rather reward the players that are staying.
2 @ nortierd:
Lions are about to lose a handful of “fringe” players including Willie Britz.
In his case I’m sure he wants game time, but he’s not a good enough lock to start at SR, and to be honest is probably at best the 6th or 7th best loose forward at the Lions, so consequently he cover 4 – 8 from the bench.
Just read elsewhere that Hugo Kloppers is on his way to Kimberley, so another young lock gone. A position where the Lions have about as much depth as a politician has integrity.
I think the purse strings must be flipping tight at Ellis Park, and that could also be contributing to the player exodus. OVERHEADS WEAR SHOES.
3 @ Scrumdown:
Britz was one of the stand out players this year. Personally, I’m hoping for a Lions win, mainly because I picked them for the win. They have performed well at Ellis Park, but it’s strange that they look so much better against the other SA sides
nortierd wrote:
It’s a mental thing that will only change with time together. Also the fact that they’re aufait with the SA sides playing styles make it easier.
I sometimes think they get the “deer in the headlights” syndrome when playing aginst the “stars” from NZ and Aus, but because they see the SA players “in the flesh” week in and week out, it doesn’t have the same effect.
Personally, I won’t accept the “inexperienced” excuse from now on. They (the Lions) have a season of SR behind them all.
3 @ nortierd:
Britz was very vivible when coming off the bench, but the few times he started games he didn’t seem to have the same effect.
He’s become a firm favourite of the Lions’ fans though, and I’m sure they’ll all be sorry to see him depart.
6 @ Scrumdown:
Ellis Park Honey Badger
😀
7 @ nortierd:
Cummins needs to go see a decent stylist and ask for more “body” before he can dare to compare himself to “maanhare” Britz.
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