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Springbok wing returns to starting lineup for Lions

Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan will start in his first Super Rugby match of the season when the Lions host the Bulls at Ellis Park on Saturday.

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It has been long way back for Skosan who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a freak accident in training during the pre-season.

The 26-year-old’s return to the starting side means fellow Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi drops down to the bench.

Skosan made his first Super Rugby appearance of the year off the bench against the Sharks in Round 17.

The other change in the backline from the side that lost to the Sharks sees Nicholas Groom start at scrumhalf with Ross Cronje playing off the bench.

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In the pack, Jacques van Rooyen will start loosehead prop in place of Dylan Smith.

Smith suffered a calf strain in the match against the Sharks.

On the bench, Marnus Schoeman is bracketed with Hacjivah Dayimani amongst the forwards, and Howard Mnisi is bracketed with Shaun Reynolds.

The Lions can secure top spot in the South African Conference with a win.

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LIONS

15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Nicholas Groom, 8. Warren Whiteley (C), 7. Cyle Brink, 6. Albertus Smith, 5. Francois Mostert, 4. Marvin Orie, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16. Corne Fourie, 17. Johannes Jonker, 18. Jacobie Adriaanse, 19. Lourens Erasmus, 20. Marnus Schoeman/Hacjivah Dayimani, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23. Howard Mnisi/Shaun Reynolds.

In other news:

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A
AM 38 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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