Junior Boks scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been named on the bench for the Lions’ vital Vodacom URC clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Pead was one of the standout performers at last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, scoring six tries as the Junior Boks lifted the trophy. After spending time training with the Springboks, the 20-year-old returned to Joburg to make his Currie Cup debut for the Lions.
His exposure at URC level has, however, been limited. Pead has made just two appearances for the Lions in the competition, both off the bench, totalling only 16 minutes of game time. He will now have the opportunity to add to those minutes at the Shark Tank.
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There are changes out wide, with powerful winger Angelo Davids returning to start on the left wing in place of Eduan Keyter, who is under concussion protocols. Lock Reinhard Nothnagel is also unavailable due to concussion, while Darrien Landsberg has been ruled out with a knee injury. As a result, Ruben Schoeman comes into the starting XV at lock.
Hard-running loose forward Renzo du Plessis returns to the match 23 on the bench after missing last month’s trip to Cape Town.
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The Lions head into the Durban encounter under pressure following three consecutive defeats across all competitions and will be desperate to secure a morale-boosting away win.
They face a resurgent Sharks outfit under JP Pietersen, with the Durban-based side coming into the match on the back of successive victories against Saracens and the Vodacom Bulls.
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LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Eddie Davids.
Bench: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Richard Kriel.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
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