Kriel to lead Emirates Lions in Pretoria

Dan Kriel will captain the Emirates Lions in their opening match of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA, when they travel north on the N1 to take on the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

The action at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19h00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The experienced Kriel takes over the captaincy from Elton Jantjies, who has taken up a short-term deal with a French club side.

Kriel, twin brother of Springbok back Jesse, starts at inside centre, next to the exciting Wandisile Simelane, with Fred Zeilinga picked to fill Jantjies’ boots at flyhalf.

Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has picked an exciting loose trio in Francke Horn, Vincent Tshituka and MJ Pelser, while props Jannie du Plessis and Sti Sithole have been named to anchor the scrum next to PJ Botha (hooker).

Tshituka's brother Emmanuel has been named on the bench while the Emirates Lions will travel to Pretoria with only two replacement backs in Morne van den Berg and EW Viljoen.

Emirates Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel (captain), 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 PJ Botha, Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 EW Viljoen.

Match information:
Date: Saturday, 1 May 2021
Time: 19h00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby and Paul Mente
Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen
TV: SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand

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