Lions recall Pretorius to poach Sharks

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has recalled star poacher JC Pretorius for the URC clash with the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Pretorius, a tactical omission from last week’s team as the Lions went down 31-19 against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, returns in one of four changes, three as a result of injuries.

READ: Lions suffer double blow for derby

Quan Horn, Henco van Wyk and Etienne Oosthuizen feature on a seven-man injury list, replaced by fullback Tapiwa Mafura, centre Manuel Rass and lock Ruben Schoeman, the latter back from a suspension.

An unchanged front row will pack down against the Sharks, with loosehead prop Juan Schoeman, veteran hooker PJ Botha and tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye spearheading the scrum. Darrien Landsberg is joined by Schoeman in the second row.

Captain Francke Horn leads a hard-hitting loose trio, with flankers Ruan Venter and Pretorius.

In the backline, Morne van den Berg combines with Gianni Lombard, who makes his third consecutive URC start at flyhalf.

Springbok speedster Edwill van der Merwe links with Richard Kriel and Mafura in a blistering back three, while Marius Louw is joined by Manuel Rass in a new-look midfield.

On a weekend with two South African derbies, a bonus-point win is a must for the Lions, whose playoff hopes hang in the balance after their loss to the Bulls in round 11. The Sharks have room to breathe, with a win taking them to within touching distance of the Bulls in third place on the log.

Joburg’s finest. Here’s your Match 23.
🆚 Hollywoodbets Sharks
🗓: Sat, 1 March
⏰: 14:30
🎟️: https://t.co/jDSBAXG9uz
🏟: Emirates Airline Park#LIOvSHA#ForOurCity@vodacom
#URC | #HitsDifferent#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/eY2P34Oxnt

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) February 28, 2025

LIONS — 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman
Bench: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Jarod Cairns, 23 Rynardt Jonker

Photo: @LionsRugbyCo/Twitter