Whatever happens on the field when the Lions face La Rochelle in the Champions Cup at 6.30pm on Saturday, the Joburgers deserve enormous credit for showing the courage to play on in the wake of teammate Hyron Andrews’s sudden death.
They could have withdrawn from the fixture, but instead chose to honour their fallen teammate in the best way they know how — by taking the field and playing for him.
The Lions were rocked by the discovery of Andrews’s body in his hotel room bathroom on Friday morning. They then faced the unenviable task of deciding quickly on whether to play before somehow switching their focus to the match.
It is not known whether Andrews was in the starting XV selected internally earlier in the week, but Ruan Delport will wear the No 5 jersey against the French side.
Chris Smith captains the team in the absence of the injured Francke Horn, while there are several other changes to the lineup. Morné Brandon starts at hooker, with Conraad van Vuuren returning at tighthead prop.
Former Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe makes his first start for the Lions at No 8 after joining from French club Montauban. He replaces Horn, with Siba Mahashe coming in at openside flank.
In the backline, Bronson Mills returns at inside centre after a lengthy injury layoff, while prolific try-scorer Erich Cronjé is back on the left wing.
In the earlier game on Saturday, the Bulls host Stade Français, with coach Johan Ackermann making significant changes to the side that humbled the Lions in last week’s United Rugby Championship clash. Despite the reshuffle, the Bulls still look a formidable proposition.
Handré Pollard returns at flyhalf in place of Curwin Bosch, while all eyes will be on debutant fullback Luan Giliomee, who has been thrust into action following his move from the Sharks.
The Bulls should have too much power for a French side that has struggled on the road. I’m tipping a home win by 15 points or more.
Sandwiched between the Bulls’ 2pm kick-off and the Lions’ evening clash is the Stormers’ meeting with Bristol Bears in Cape Town. at 4.15pm. John Dobson has once again named a side packed with current Springboks, although the visitors will not simply roll over. Bristol are an adventurous outfit who play an exciting brand of rugby, but the Stormers should have enough quality to secure a 10-point victory.
In the second-tier Challenge Cup, the Sharks kick off against Lyon at 2pm, unfortunately clashing with the Bulls match.
JP Pietersen has left his six Springboks at home, but the Sharks still have a competitive-looking lineup. However, Lyon’s home advantage could prove decisive, and I expect the French side to win by five points or more.
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Cheswill Jooste, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Stravino Jacobs, 23 Willie le Roux.
Stade Français: 15 Leo Monin, 14 Aisake Nawaqadrua, 13 Freddy Duguivalu, 12 Julien Delbouis, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Martin Blum, 8 Juan-Martin Scelzo (captain), 7 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 6 Pierre Huguet, 5 Fabrice Metz, 4 Jacques Botha, 3 Moses Alo-Emile, 2 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 1 Thomas Bue. Replacements: 16 Ethan Tia, 17 Sergo Abramishvili, 18 Braxton Asi, 19 Petero Mailulu, 20 Setareki Turagacoke, 21 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 22 Samuel Ezeala, 23 Rufus McLean.
Referee: Christoph Ridley (England). Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Jamie Parr (England). TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Riley Norton, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Bristol Bears: 15 Tobi Wilson, 14 Max Pepper, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jack Bates, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Kieran Marmion (captain), 8 Luka Ivanishvili, 7 Kenzie Jenkins, 6 Joe Owen, 5 Josh Caulfield, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 Jimmy Halliwell, 2 Tomas Gwilliam, 1 Jake Woolmore. Replacements: 16 Sol Moody, 17 Andrew Turner, 18 Sam Scott, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Paddy Pearce, 21 Ollie Harris, 22 James Williams, 23 Victor Worsnip.
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France). Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (France), Flavien Hourquet (France). TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Teams:
Stade Rochelais: 15 Sacha Elissalde, 14 Tevita Ofaz 13 Semi Lagivala, 12 Jules Favre, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Valentin Bouju, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Watisoni Waqanisaravi, 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Karl Sorin, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Alexandre Kaddouri. Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Louis Penverne, 18 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Matthias Haddad, 22 Dillyn Leyds, 23 Avakuki Niusalelekitoka
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Richard Kriel, 23 Boeta Chamberlain
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland). Assistant referees: Johnny Mackenzie (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland). TMO: Dave Sutherland (Scotland)
Teams:
Lyon:15 Gabin Lorre, 14 Alfred Parisien, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Adrien Seguret, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Maxime Gouzou, 7 Liam Allen, 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Janse Roux, 4 Mickael Guillard, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Thomas Gallo. Replacements: 16 Mathis Sarragallet, 17 Hamza Kaabeche, 18 Thomas Marceline, 19 Marvin Okuya, 20 Lilian Baret, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Léo Berdeu, 23 Thibaut Regard.
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Lili Bester, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Nemo Roelofse, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Tinotenda Mavesere, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli. Assistant Referees: Daniele Pompa, Matteo Angelo Locatelli. TMO: Stefano Penne