Cited Lion opens the door for Jonck
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:44
The one-match ban handed down to Lions scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, for his spear tackle on Cheetahs wing Fabien Juries, has opened the door for Chris Jonck to have another run and secure a more regular starting spot.
Vermaak, who was cited after the Lions lost 28-38 to the Cheetahs on August 22, appeared before a disciplinary hearing only on Tuesday this week.
The positive spin that can be put on Vermaak's ban is that the one match he will miss is against the lowly Falcons and chances are that Jonck would have had an extended run in the game anyway. Now Jonck starts and gets a chance to cement a more regular spot.
Ironically Jonck last started in Round Three, also against the Falcons, and produced a performance that made many critics wonder if he should not start ahead of Vermaak more often.
The other change to the starting XV is at No.8, where Willem Alberts has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
However, Super 14 captain Ernst Joubert is fit again and takes over at the back of the scrum.
Cobus Grobbelaar will continue to captain the Currie Cup side from the flank.
The Lions currently occupy fourth position on the Currie Cup standings with 26 points, six adrift of the third-placed Free State Cheetahs - with a nine-point cushion over the fifth-placed Western Province.
With five matches still remaining ahead of the play-offs, there is pressure on every team, whether it is to remain in contention for a place in the play-offs, to make the play-offs or to fight for home ground advantage.
"We have spent the week training hard and will be ready and prepared for Friday night," explained coach Eugene Eloff.
"We are in a strong semifinal position and will be taking each game as it comes and will certainly we putting our all into each game.
"The focus is on each individual game at the moment, and on winning each game."
Lions: 15 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Derick Minnie, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Walter Venter, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Rayno Benjamin.
Date: Friday, September 5
Venue: Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Peter de Bruin
TMO: Michael Cupido
