Lions count on Springbok star power to help keep European dream alive

The inclusion of Jaco Kriel is one of two changes to the Lions team for their Challenge Cup quarter-final against the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

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The Lions caused a major upset when they eliminated Racings 92 with a 51-28 upset win in the Round of 16 to book a place among the last eight remaining teams in the Challenge Cup.

THE CHANGES MADE TO THE LINEUP

But coach Ivan van Rooyen has tweaked his lineup, making two changes to the Lions’ starting lineup and one switch on the bench.

Kriel starts at openside flank, in place of the suspended Emmanuel Tshituka. Kriel’s selection brings the number of Springboks in the Lions’ match 23 to four, alongside the capped Willem Alberts, Ruan Dreyer and Andries Coetzee.

However, despite Kriel previously leading the Lions, his latest selection wasn’t enough to see him wrestle the captain’s armband from inside centre Marius Louw, who retains the captaincy.

Lock Ruben Schoeman is promoted to the starting XV and his place on the bench taken by Ruan Delport. Reinhard Nothnagel is the notable absentee.

LIVE UPDATES: SPRINGBOKS’ ROAD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

LIONS TEAMS FOR CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Lions — 15 Quan Horn, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith.
Subs: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Rhynardt Rijnsburger, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Rynhardt Jonker, 23 Andries Coetzee.

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