WILL it be a case of fourth time lucky for the Lions against Ulster today?
The Johannesburg side have lost all three United Rugby Championship encounters against the men from Belfast, and will hope to be on the right side of the scoreboard in today’s clash at Ellis Park (12.55pm start).
In 2021, it was a 26-10 win at the Kingspan Stadium for Ulster, and then they pulled off a 39-37 victory in Joburg in 2022, before clinching a 24-17 triumph in Belfast last November.
Ulster are usually teeming with seasoned campaigners and internationals such as Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, John Cooney, Nathan Doak and now former Blitzbok star Werner Kok in the backline, and it’s the same in the pack with captain Iain Henderson, Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole and Matty Rea.
Belfast ✈️ London ✈️ Johannesburg
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 26, 2024
Travel vlog with Tom O'Toole pic.twitter.com/BR09OcIUR9
But that picture is slowly changing for the Lions. Suddenly they boast a few Boks in their ranks, like fullback Quan Horn and flank Ruan Venter, while they have a number of dynamic figures such as Sanele Nohamba, Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Francke Horn.
Big No 8 Horn was announced as the captain against Ulster by coach Ivan van Rooyen yesterday, and it is just reward for the former Paarl Boys High star after a number of outstanding seasons.
Horn is pushing for Bok selection too, and his powerful ball-carries alongside Venter will hopefully get the Lions on the front foot against a well-drilled Ulster pack this afternoon.
The Lions should be competitive in the scrums with a front row of Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha and Morgan Naudé, although it was somewhat of a surprise to see stalwart lock Ruben Schoeman picked on the bench, with Reinhard Nothnagel preferred at No 4.
But if the forwards can secure their set-pieces and generate quick ball, the Lions have a lethal backline capable of unlocking any defence in the competition.
Van Rooyen has made the big call to shift Nohamba from flyhalf to scrumhalf from last week’s Currie Cup final team, with the more traditional pivot in Kade Wolhuter at No 10.
It indicates the way the home side will play, with the fight for territory crucial with Wolhuter’s big boot.
But the former Stormers flyhalf can get his backline away as well, and he will have plenty of firepower to call on the shape of Quan Horn, pacy wings in Rabz Maxwane and Tapiwa Mafura, and fleet-footed centres Erich Cronjé and Rynhardt Jonker.
Coming into the @URCOfficial_RSA season hot.🥵🔥#SAMA28 🦁 pic.twitter.com/MCVH3phmkX
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) September 26, 2024
It is a pity that two hard-running ball-carries in centre Marius Louw and flank JC Pretorius have been ruled out with injuries, but there are several replacements who can make a significant difference off the bench in the second half.
Schoeman’s physicality is well documented, while young loose forwards Siba Qoma and Renzo du Plessis have shown their class in the Currie Cup.
Nico Steyn is capable of making a difference at scrumhalf and flyhalf, and Lions fans will be delighted to see star centre Henco van Wyk back from injury.
The Lions are well equipped to finally get over the line against Ulster, but they will have to heed the costly lesson from last week’s last-gasp Currie Cup final defeat to the Sharks and ensure that they close out the game properly against a Belfast side that never gives up.
Lions Team
15 Quan Horn 14 Rabz Maxwane 13 Erich Cronjé 12 Rynhardt Jonker 11 Tapiwa Mafura 10 Kade Wolhuter 9 Sanele Nohamba 8 Francke Horn (captain) 7 Ruan Venter 6 Jarod Cairns 5 Darrien Landsberg 4 Reinhard Nothnagel 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 PJ Botha 1 Morgan Naudé.
Bench: 16 Franco Marais 17 Juan Schoeman 18 Conraad van Vuuren 19 Ruben Schoeman 20 Siba Qoma 21 Renzo du Plessis 22 Nico Steyn 23 Henco van Wyk.