Wolhuter back for Benetton battle

Kade Wolhuter starts at flyhalf as the Lions begin a run of four must-win games with a clash against Benetton at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The 14th-placed Lions are back to URC action following a disappointing European tour that included three consecutive defeats.

Van Rooyen’s side lost to Cardiff and defending champions Glasgow Warriors, before bowing out of the EPCR Challenge Cup in the Round of 16 against Edinburgh.

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Captain Francke Horn starts at No 8, linking up in the back row with fetcher JC Pretorius and blindside bruiser Ruan Venter.

Darrien Landsberg and Ruben Schoeman partner up in the second row, while veteran hooker PJ Botha returns to the starting XV between tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye and loosehead Juan Schoeman, who replaces SJ Kotze.

In the backline, Bok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg partners Wolhuter, who makes his first URC start since November in place of Gianni Lombard. Rynhardt Jonker pairs Marius Louw in midfield, while Tapiwa Mafura replaces the injured Richard Kriel to join Bok duo Edwill van der Merwe and Quan Horn in a strong back three.

The Pride will need to turn Ellis Park into a fortress, though even a perfect run at home may not be enough to secure a playoff spot.

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Manuel Rass, Henco van Wyk, Etienne Oosthuizen, Reinhard Nothnagel, Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Conrad van Vuuren, and Zander du Plessis are all unavailable for selection due to injury.

LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 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 Renzo du Plessis, 23 Kelly Mpeku.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images