Johannesburg - The result won’t mean much when the Lions clash with the Stormers in the teams’ final warm-up before the start of Super Rugby in two weeks’ time, but for some players tomorrow’s outing at Newlands is massively important. Rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen highlights five players who’ll want to put in a good showing
Madosh Tambwe
One of the new faces in the Lions set-up and very much an unknown quantity, the U-19 star from last year gets a golden opportunity to stake a claim for the No 14 jersey. Coach Johan Ackermann will only have Springbok Ruan Combrinck back in April so until then there’s a chance he’ll look to a few men to fill in out wide. He knows what he has in Anthony Volmink and Jacques Nel, while Andries Coetzee and Sylvian Mahuza can probably also play on the wing, but it’s the strapping 19-year-old Tambwe who seems to have the inside lane.
Rohan Janse van
Rensburg
The specialist inside centre was the hottest property in Super Rugby last year, his powerful runs and offloads playing a big part in the Lions going all the way to the final. But the 22-year-old will face stiff competition from the experienced Howard Mnisi, who’ll play outside him tomorrow, as well as Harold Vorster, the tall and strong centre who missed out completely last year because of injury. While Janse van Rensburg is a beast with ball in hand, he’ll have to show he’s improved defensively if he’s going to be a regular. There’s no better time than now.
Elton Jantjies
Like many of his team-mates, the flyhalf was sensational throughout last season, guiding his team to the playoffs and then the final but he’ll have to do it all again this year - and show he’s improved, too. Because this year Pat Lambie is fully fit and Handre Pollard is back, too, so Jantjies won’t be the automatic first choice for the Boks. He has every chance to be the Lions’ match-winner again but he’ll quickly have to rediscover his best form after performing poorly in the green and gold. Ackermann will be desperate for him to stand tall again from the start as there’s no Marnitz Boshoff to fall back on this year
Ruan Ackermann
The 20-year-old son of the coach made quite an impression in his debut season in 2016, playing in every position in the back-row and in the locks, too. He improved as the season went on and now with stalwart flank Warwick Tecklenburg retired, there’s a chance for Ackermann to nail down the No 7 jersey. He’ll get stiff competition from Cyle Brink (at 6 tomorrow) and Fabian Juries (at 8 tomorrow) and even Franco Mostert (at 4 tomorrow), but a good performance should get him into the starting team.
Marvin Orie
The 23-year-old lock was lured to the Lions after battling to get regular game-time at the Bulls and he’ll hope to feature often over the coming weeks and months. An impressive lineout man who stands 2m tall and tips the scales at 104kg he seems like the perfect fit for Ackermann’s outfit. At 23 he’ll be hungry to make an impression as he’s sure to be challenged by the likes of Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, JP du Preez and Lourens Erasmus. But what an opportunity to show what you’re made of.
Lions:
Jaco van der Walt, Madosh Tambwe, Howard Mnisi, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnal Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Fabian Booysen, Ruan Ackermann, Cyle Brink, Marvin Orie, Franco Mostert, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen. Bench: Akker van der Merwe, Corne Fourie, Hencus van Wyk, Andries Ferreira, Lourens Erasmus, Robert Kruger, Jaco Kriel, Victor Sekekete, Dillon Smit, Andries Coetzee, Harold Vorster, Anthony Volmink, Jacques Nel, Sylvian Mahuza