Latest news with #MornévandenBerg
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Lions try to outflank Scarlets with positional switch for Springbok Ruan Venter
Ruan Venter Ruan Venter will move from the flank to lock for the Lions against the Scarlets. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The Lions go into their latest 'do-or-die' clash against the Scarlets at Ellis Park on Sunday (3pm kickoff) minus stalwart scrumhalf Morné van den Berg, and with a positional switch for Springbok flanker Ruan Venter. Nico Steyn will replace livewire Springbok Van den Berg, who has a hamstring injury, in the starting line-up against the Welsh visitors. He will be expected to provide the spark for an exciting Lions backline that includes the elusive and dynamic Quan Horn at fullback, star centre Henco van Wyk and wings Richard Kriel and Edwill van der Merwe. If their pack can help give them front-foot ball, then home fans could be in for a treat of running rugby. Morné van den Berg Morné van den Berg will be sorely missed by the Lions against the Scarlets. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix They will have to cut out the unforced errors that have blighted their play at times this season, however. Should they once again opt for the conservative game-plan that characterised their last match, then the strong boot of flyhalf Kade Wolhuter could prove telling for coach Ivan van Rooyen's side. While Steyn is a like-for-like replacement for Van den Berg, whose leadership will be sorely missed, the decision to move Venter to lock has raised eyebrows. Venter replaces Ruben Schoeman, who falls out of the match-23 altogether. He will pack down alongside Ruan Delport. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The experienced Darrien Landsberg will provide lock cover on the bench, should the experiment falter. PJ Botha also provides experienced back-up at hooker. Layton Horn provides scrumhalf cover, while Lubabalo Dobela can help out in a few backline positions. The young Renzo du Plessis gets another chance to impress in the No 7 jersey, having been one of the stand-out players in the victory over Connacht in Johannesburg. Hooker Jaco Visagie continues to skipper the side in the absence of regular captain and No 8 Francke Horn. The Lions are seeking to build on their win over Connacht at home two weeks ago that ended a long losing streak and kept alive their slim playoff hopes. But even with bonus-point wins in their last two games of the regular season, they can only reach 45 points.
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Van den Berg can spark Lions in Challenge Cup redemption hunt against Edinburgh
Morné van den Berg Morné van den Berg will be one of the game drivers for the Lions against Edinburgh on Friday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The Lions made a few changes to their side to strike a balance in fielding and resting key players as they hunt a quarter-final place in the Challenge Cup, and chase a spot in the top eight in the United Rugby Championship. For now, all the focus will be on beating Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium (9pm kick-off) in the Scottish capital, and putting on a better performance than what was the case last weekend in Glasgow. Head coach Ivan van Rooyen selected an exciting starting XV on Thursday for the round of 16 clash in the EPCR competition. The inclusion of Morné van den Berg at scrumhalf should provide the Johannesburg outfit with some attacking impetus. Not that his replacement Nico Steyn did not do well in his injury-enforced absence, but Van den Berg brings a different dimension to the Lions' attack. If the conditions don't allow the visitors to play their running brand of rugby, the tactical kicking at scrumhalf and flyhalf, and from fullback Quan Horn, will have to be on point. Van den Berg will resume his halfback partnership with Gianni Lombard as the Lions' two game drivers. Rynhardt Jonker taking over from the experienced Marius Louw at inside centre comes as a surprise, but it ties in with the team wanting to strike that balance in giving the players game-time over the next few weeks. Upfront, fetcher Jarod Cairns comes in for JC Pretorius, Franco Marais is the starting hooker and loosehead SJ Kotze has been given a chance to state his case in place of Juan Schoeman. Schoeman will come off the bench and could face his brother Pierre, who plays for Edinburgh. Jaque Fourie, the Lions' defence coach, said earlier in the week that they must find that middle ground when it comes to the players' minutes on the field. 'When you get to knockouts, you want to play your best teams,' he said. 'We also want to get that continuity (in selection) going. We have chatted about that quite a bit, because we are going into the business end of the tournaments. 'We want to win (in the knockouts), but we also want to end in the top eight of the URC. 'There were lengthy discussions (on resting players), but we have sorted it out. 5️⃣0️⃣ for Wes Goosen ✨@EdinburghRugby make four changes to their team after their #BKTURC win against the Dragons last weekend 🤩 All #ChallengeCupRugby Team News ⬇️ — EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 3, 2025 'We are prepared to play for six weeks straight if it comes down to that. The more the team can play together, the better it will be for us and them.' Looking at their peculiar position in both competitions, it's unsurprising that the Lions selected their best to continue forging on in the Challenge Cup. If they can find that momentum and play to their ability, they can go all the way to the final, like the Sharks did last season. ✨ Round of 16 Fixtures ✨ Bath Rugby, Racing 92, Hollywoodbets Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls drop into the competition, some mouthwatering ties to come 🍿 Who are you backing to make the #ChallengeCupRugby final in Cardiff, tickets on sale now ⬇️ — EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 22, 2025
