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Cape Town – John Mitchell did not need much time as coach of the Lions in the Currie Cup to turn them into a much stronger unit.
Now, after three weeks’ strength training, fitness exercises and general conditioning, the Lions will step forward as a regional side under Mitchell for the first time.
There is a lot of excitement among the team’s supporters, and they will no doubt want to see what the coach has been able to do with the players over the last three months.
The Lions and Stormers tackle one another at Newlands at 19:00 on Friday night.
Mitchell says that the match is about testing the players’ fitness and readiness, and that the result does not matter.
A number of combinations will be tested, as there are several new faces in the Lions squad.
There will be a lot of interest in the Lions’ front row.
The departure of Heinke van der Merwe to Ireland, and the unsuccessful attempt to lure Beast Mtawarira to Johannesburg means that the Lions will have to think carefully about who their props are going to be in Super Rugby.
“We got Pat Cilliers from the Sharks, and Kevin Buys can play again after he was injured in the Currie Cup. And then there is JC Janse van Rensburg,” said Mitchell.
Janse van Rensburg (25) has played for the Lions since 2006, and has a lot of experience. He already made strides last year, and Mitchell is expecting a big season from his loosehead prop.
“JC is still young. But I think he has the potential to ultimately play Test rugby. The change in his physical condition over the last 12 months has been incredible,” said Mitchell.
The Lions also still have Ross Geldenhuys, Jacobie Adriaanse and Wayne Swart that can play prop. Janse van Rensburg and Buys are in the starting line-up against the Stormers, who have surprised all by picking 18-year-old Steven Kitshoff in their squad.
Mitchell is not concerned about who the Stormers have picked, as he is only interested in his team’s performance.
“How old is he? Flyhalf? Oh, prop,” was the reaction from Mitchell when he was asked about the Stormers’ inclusion of such a young front-ranker.
“Well, he has to be very good if they are picking him,” he added.
Mitchell has decided to start with Rory Kockott and veteran André Pretorius as his halfback pairing. Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be wrapped in cotton wool for now.
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegan, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. CJ van der Linde
Reserves: 16. Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Wimpie van der Walt, 20. Quinn Roux, 21. Pieter Louw, 22. Siya Kolisi, 23. Louis Schreuder, 24. Elgar Watts, 25. Johann Sadie, 26. Tim Whitehead, 27. JJ Engelbrecht, 28. Danie Poolman
Lions:
15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 George Earle, 4 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: Martin Bezuidenhout, Jacobie Adriaanse, Wikus van Heerden, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jano Vermaak, Jannie Boshoff, Burton Francis, Edgar Marutlulle, Ross Geldenhuys, David Bulbring, Dries van Schalkwyk, Joubert Engelbrecht, Tonderai Chavhanga
Cape Town – John Mitchell did not need much time as coach of the Lions in the Currie Cup to turn them into a much stronger unit.
Now, after three weeks’ strength training, fitness exercises and general conditioning, the Lions will step forward as a regional side under Mitchell for the first time.
There is a lot of excitement among the team’s supporters, and they will no doubt want to see what the coach has been able to do with the players over the last three months.
The Lions and Stormers tackle one another at Newlands at 19:00 on Friday night.
Mitchell says that the match is about testing the players’ fitness and readiness, and that the result does not matter.
A number of combinations will be tested, as there are several new faces in the Lions squad.
There will be a lot of interest in the Lions’ front row.
The departure of Heinke van der Merwe to Ireland, and the unsuccessful attempt to lure Beast Mtawarira to Johannesburg means that the Lions will have to think carefully about who their props are going to be in Super Rugby.
“We got Pat Cilliers from the Sharks, and Kevin Buys can play again after he was injured in the Currie Cup. And then there is JC Janse van Rensburg,” said Mitchell.
Janse van Rensburg (25) has played for the Lions since 2006, and has a lot of experience. He already made strides last year, and Mitchell is expecting a big season from his loosehead prop.
“JC is still young. But I think he has the potential to ultimately play Test rugby. The change in his physical condition over the last 12 months has been incredible,” said Mitchell.
The Lions also still have Ross Geldenhuys, Jacobie Adriaanse and Wayne Swart that can play prop. Janse van Rensburg and Buys are in the starting line-up against the Stormers, who have surprised all by picking 18-year-old Steven Kitshoff in their squad.
Mitchell is not concerned about who the Stormers have picked, as he is only interested in his team’s performance.
“How old is he? Flyhalf? Oh, prop,” was the reaction from Mitchell when he was asked about the Stormers’ inclusion of such a young front-ranker.
“Well, he has to be very good if they are picking him,” he added.
Mitchell has decided to start with Rory Kockott and veteran André Pretorius as his halfback pairing. Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be wrapped in cotton wool for now.
Teams:
Stormers:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Gary van Aswegan, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. CJ van der Linde
Reserves: 16. Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Wimpie van der Walt, 20. Quinn Roux, 21. Pieter Louw, 22. Siya Kolisi, 23. Louis Schreuder, 24. Elgar Watts, 25. Johann Sadie, 26. Tim Whitehead, 27. JJ Engelbrecht, 28. Danie Poolman
Lions:
15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 George Earle, 4 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: Martin Bezuidenhout, Jacobie Adriaanse, Wikus van Heerden, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jano Vermaak, Jannie Boshoff, Burton Francis, Edgar Marutlulle, Ross Geldenhuys, David Bulbring, Dries van Schalkwyk, Joubert Engelbrecht, Tonderai Chavhanga
