Coetzee back as Lions change four

The Emirates Lions have brought back fullback Andries Coetzee among four changes from the staring team that beat the Scarlets last weekend for their first foray into the European Challenge Cup against another Welsh side, the Dragons on Saturday.

Coetzee replaces Quan Horn as a backline shuffle sees a new halfback combination as the Lions look for some valuable opening points as they look to do the double after beating the Dragons in Johannesburg two weeks ago.

Coetzee is back at 15 while Zander du Plessis joins Sango Xamlashe in the midfield and Gianni Lombard and Andre Warner are the new halfback combination.

Up front it is the same pack that won the game for them against the Scarlets, with Willem Alberts’s planned return postponed for another week.

Emmanuel Tshituka is again at eight and will be the key man up front for the side.

Match 2??3?? for our opening @ChallengeCup_ encounter against @dragonsrugby history awaits.#LionsPride?? pic.twitter.com/mbVxWKy8z7

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) December 9, 2022

Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee; Rabz Maxwane, Sango Xamlashe, Zander du Plessis, Edwill van der Merwe; Gianni Lombard, Andre Warner; Emmanuel Tshituka, Darrian Landsberg, Jaco Kriel, Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), Ruben Schoeman, Ruan Dreyer, PJ Botha, Sti Sithole.

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Sibusiso Sangweni, Sanele Nohamba, Jordan Hendrikse, Rynhardt Jonker