Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is one of a handful of Springboks the Lions are fielding against the Sharks. Picture: Chris Fairweather/Gallo Images The Lions have named a powerhouse team replete with all their Springboks in the starting XV for their United Rugby Championship Derby against the Sharks. The match kicks off at 3.30pm at Kings Park in Durban, withthe Lionsnaming a relatively unchanged team for round nine.
Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop), Ruan Venter (flanker), Morné van den Berg (scrumhalf) and Quan Horn (fullback) all start, while SA U20 star Haashim Pead plays from the bench. Locks Darrien Landsberg and Reinhard Nothnagel miss out due to shoulder and concussion setbacks suffered against the Stormers a fortnight ago. Angelo Davids makes an appearance on the left wing for Eduan Keyter who’s undergoing standard concussion protocols.
Eddie Davids starts at loosehead prop with SJ Kotze remaining at home also due to injury. Renzo du Plessis and Pead are drafted onto the bench. The Lions are eighth on theURC tablewith three wins from seven matches.
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The Sharks are 13th with two wins. The Sharkshave the edge over the Lions historically in the URC, winning five out of their eight clashes. Last season, the Lions beat the Sharks 38-14 in Joburg before the Sharks beat the Lions 25-22 in Durban.
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