Wolhuter at 10 as Lions prepare for Benetton

The Emirates Lions have made an interesting change at flyhalf, calling up Kade Wolhuter ahead of Gianni Lombard for their crucial Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against Italian side Benetton on Saturday.

With injuries to backline players Richard Kriel and Mannie Rass dealing them a setback, the backline has been rejigged with Tapiwa Mafura coming in for Kriel on the wing, and Rynhardt Jonker returning to the midfield to partner Marius Louw.

Henco van Wyk also remains injured, as the season’s toll begins to show, but Wolhuter, who has been rather injury prone himself, is an interesting elevation ahead of Lombard, perhaps indicating the Lions are looking for a more structured approach to the last part of the season where they can’t afford a slip up.

JC Pretorius returns to the loose trio ahead of Jarod Cairns, with Francke Horn captaining the side into battle and Springbok Ruan Venter making up the rest of the loose trio.

In the front row there are also two changes with PJ Botha and Juan Schoeman returning to the starting line-up for SJ Kotze and Franco Marais.

On the bench Renzo du Plessis returns to the match day 23 along with Kelly Mpeku and Nico Steyn to add some impact during the game.

The Lions need to win all four of their remaining games with a bonus point to reach the 50 point mark - which they achieved last season - and that may not be enough to make the top eight. The Lions haven’t made the top eight in any of the previous three seasons in the URC.

TEAM: Quan Horn; Tapiwa Mafura, Reinhardt Jonker, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe; Kade Wolhuter, Morne van den Berg; Francke Horn (captain), Ruan Venter, JC Pretorius, Darrien Landsberg, Ruan Schoeman, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, Juan Schoeman.

REPLACEMENTS: Jaco Visagie, SJ Kotze, RF Schoema, Ruan Delport, Sibabalo Qoma, Nico Steyn, Renzo du Plessis, Kelly Mpeku.