Mills and Van Wyk form new centre pairing for Lions against Connacht

Saturday’s Round 16 Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash sees the Johannesburg side lock horns with Irish outfit Connacht at Emirates Airline from 4pm.

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has taken a different approach to this weekend’s crucial fixture by including King Edward VII School old boy Bronson Mills at inside centre. Mills, who makes his international club debut, partners the returning Henco van Wyk in the midfield in what is a new-look centre combination. Also included on the right wing is Richard Kriel who missed out last week against Benetton Rugby due to a niggle picked at training.

The loose trio sees Jarod Cairns comes in for the injured Francke Horn who sustained a knee injury in Round 15 against Benetton, forcing him off the field during the first half. The explosive Renzo du Plessis secures a starting berth with star poacher JC Pretorius completing the backrow.

Earlier this week Emirates Lions scrum guru Julian Redelinghuys spoke about the considerable amount of pressure towards the Race to the Eight, especially after last week’s 42-31 loss to the Italians last week.

“We have spoken a lot about pressure over the past few weeks,” Redelinghuys added. “Pressure can numb you. It can make you retreat into yourself, or you can use it as a privilege.

“We are playing the game we love and working with people we care for. This sport isn’t played to be fun or nice, it’s played to be won and make the play-offs. We want to make that big step up collectively and we believe our best rugby is yet to be played,” he concluded.

A notable inclusion on the bench is that of Lubabalo Dobela who is yet to make his debut for the Emirates Lions. Izan Esterhuizen and Darrien Landsberg are also on the bench.

Emirates Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morne van den Berg; 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 JC Pretorius; 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruben Schoeman; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Izan Esterhuizen, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

SATURDAY

Emirates Lions v Connacht

Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA & SA

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 20th league game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Hanru Van Rooyen (SARU)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Live on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv