Cape Town - Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson is predicting a tough Super Rugby encounter against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Sydneysiders started their campaign with a hard-fought 19-13 home win over the Western Force last weekend.
Gibson is looking for improvement in this weekend’s clash at Ellis Park.
“The Lions are a strong team and we’re expecting them to be formidable at home,” Gibson told the Waratahs’ official website.
“The team had some frustrations with our game last weekend when we sat down to review the game. We know the areas we want to work on coming out of last weekend and just looking forward to playing in front of what we know will be an enthusiastic crowd,” Gibson continued.
Meanwhile, star flyhalf Bernard Foley is still sidelined with concussion, with Bryce Hegarty keeping the No 10 jersey.
"Bernard had progressed well through the return to play stages early in the week, to the point where he had taken part in non-contact training,” Gibson said.
"But after assessing him this morning (Thursday) we felt he was not quite 100% so it would be best to give him another week," said Gibson.
Saturday’s clash is scheduled for 15:05.
Teams:
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Sylvian Mahuza, 23 Jaco van der Walt
Waratahs
15 Andrew Kellaway 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Tom Robertson
Substitutes: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 David Lolohea, 19 David McDuling, 20 Senio Toleafoa, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro