Latest news with #BronsonMills
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bok flank Venter to pack down at lock for Lions against Scarlets
The coach has stuck with the exciting midfield pairing of Bronson Mills and Henco van Wyk. Regular Lions flank Ruan Venter (No 7) has shifted to lock for the URC match against Scarlets this weekend. Picture: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has welcomed back Springbok forward Ruan Venter to his team for the United Rugby Championship match against Scarlets at Ellis Park on Sunday, with kick off at 3pm. Venter though, who earned his only Bok cap to date last season, will play in the lock position on Sunday rather than in his more familiar blindside flank role. Exciting scrumhalf Nico Steyn will wear the No 9 jersey in place of the injured Morne van den Berg, while rookie Layton Horn will be his backup. In the absence of Francke Horn, hooker Jaco Visagie will again lead the side from hooker. Van Rooyen has also opted to stick with the midfield pairing of youngster Bronson Mills and Henco van Wyk, while Kade Wolhuter will continue at flyhalf. 'We want to win last two games' The Lions go into the match on the back of a good win against Connacht, but find themselves down in 13th position on the points table with 35 points. Scarlets are seventh with 43 points, having won one more game so far than the Lions (8-7). For the Lions to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals, and the top eight, they will have to win this weekend and also beat Ospreys next week, with bonus points, and hope some other results go their way. Defence coach Jaque Fourie though said the team were not looking at the log or the permutations. 'We are not worried about permutations; we want to win the last two games with five points,' said Fourie. 'Scarlets are a quality outfit; they have come a long way this season and we can't think it's going to be an easy game. We need to rock up on Sunday and the following week too. They have shown (Ospreys) that they are probably our bogey team in the last few years.' Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills, Edwill van der Merwe, Kade Wolhuter, Nico Steyn, Jarod Cairns, Renzo du Plessis, JC Pretorius, Ruan Delport, Ruan Venter, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Jaco Visagie (capt), Morgan Naude. Bench: PJ Botha, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Darrien Landsberg, Sibabalo Qoma, Layton Horn, Lubabalo Dobela, Rynhardt Jonker
The Star
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Henco van Wyk back as Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen picks new midfield for URC clash with Connacht
Mike Greenaway | Published 3 hours ago Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has taken a different approach to this weekend's crucial United Rugby Championship fixture against Connacht at Ellis Park (4pm kick-off) by including King Edward VII School (KES) old boy Bronson Mills at inside centre. Mills, who makes his Lions debut, partners the returning Henco van Wyk in the midfield in a new-look centre combination. Back on the right wing is Richard Kriel, who missed out on last week's defeat to Benetton due to a niggle picked at training. The loose trio sees Jarod Cairns come in for the injured Francke Horn, who sustained a knee injury in Round 15, 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 back row. Veteran hooker Jaco Visagie will lead the team in Horn's absence. Earlier this week, Lions scrum guru Julian Redelinghuys spoke about the huge pressure on the team in the Race to Eight, especially after last week's 42-31 loss to the Italians. '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 playoffs. '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 Lions. Izan Esterhuizen and Darrien Landsberg are among the impact players on the bench. Lions Team 15 Quan Horn 14 Richard Kriel 13 Henco van Wyk 12 Bronson Mills 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Kade Wolhuter 9 Morné 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 (captain) 1 Morgan Naudé. Bench: 16 PJ Botha 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Darrien Landsberg 20 Izan Esterhuizen 21 Nico Steyn 22 Lubabalo Dobela 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
