The Highlanders believe the loss of Lions captain Warren Whiteley is a major blow for their opposition ahead of Sunday morning’s Super Rugby semi-final.
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“One suspects though that the Lions will be just that little bit more fired up if they know a victory against the Highlanders will give them a final against the Chiefs at Ellis Park, while a Hurricanes win earlier tomorrow (kick-off 9.30am) may just deflate the players somewhat.Ackermann says he doubts he’ll watch the first semi-final in Wellington”.
While the Lions’ loose forward play has been first-rate this season, Joseph says there are other elements to their game which makes them unsafe all-round opponents.
Ruan Ackermann replaces Whiteley at number eight.
The teams have clashed in New Zealand already this season with the Dunedin-based side winning 34-15 in March.
“Unlike a lot of the South African teams they play a running game of football”.
“We can’t control what happens after this weekend, but we can make sure we produce a good performance on Saturday”.
“It’s touch and go, but I believe I will be ready”, he told reporters.
“They play a real positive game of footy, they’re very similar to New Zealand teams”, Smith said.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 1 Dylan Smith, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 4 Andries Ferreira, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Jaco Kriel (c), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 8 Ruan Ackermann.
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The Highlanders will employ a six forward, two back bench for this week, with hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate, prop Ross Geldenhuys and lock Joe Wheeler added to the squad.
