Griquas unleash a Bok on Lions
Springbok lock Hilton Lobberts will make his first appearance for Griquas when they take on the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
For the Lions it is their last match before the Super Rugby promotion relegation series – when they play the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth (July 26) and Johannesburg (August 2).
Griquas are using the game as preparation for their Currie Cup campaign, which kicks off when they take on last year's beaten finalists, the Sharks, in Durban on August 9.
Lobberts, who played in two Tests for South African in 2006 and 2007, played for the San Donà club in Italy last year, but returned to Cape Town this year.
Although he trained with the Stormers earlier this season, he never got a look-in and has now signed with Griquas.
The 27-year-old, who started his career at the Bulls in Pretoria, played for the Stormers and Western Province as well.
He has become something of a journeyman in recent years, even featuring for the University of Cape Town in the Varsity Cup.
The Griquas team have four newcomers, including two Varsity Cup players from Johannesburg.
Lobberts, Sharks fullback Gouws Prinsloo, Carel Greeff (University of the Witwatersrand No.8) and RJ Liebenberg (University of Johannesburg flank) will all make their first appearance in the peacock blue jersey.
The latter two are on trial ahead of the Currie Cup season.
Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 DuRandt Gerber, 11 PJ Vermeulen (captain), 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jonathan Adendorff, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Matthew Dobson, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements – from: Gideon Bruwer, Brummer Badenhorst, Jaco Nepgen, Deon Carney, Burger Schoeman, Justin Downey, Marnus Hugo, Dusty Noble, Nico Scheepers, Enrico Acker.
Date: Saturday, July 13
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Renier Vermeulen
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
