Overview
- The Lions confirmed a refreshed XV for Ospreys with Springboks Morne van den Berg and Asenathi Ntlabakanye starting and Henco van Wyk marking his 50th appearance as they pivot fully to the URC after Challenge Cup elimination.
- Coaches at the Lions highlighted a 4G surface in Wales and cold, wet weather, with an emphasis on kicking for territory and lineout and maul returns after a set-piece driven outing in Perpignan.
- The Bulls rotated a Springbok-laden pack for Edinburgh, bringing in Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje and No 8 Jeandre Rudolph, while Johan Ackermann stressed the need to win contestable kicks in expected wet and windy conditions.
- Andre Esterhuizen regains the captaincy for the Sharks in Cape Town, Ethan Hooker returns at outside centre, and a heavyweight bench featuring Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche and Grant Williams is set to provide late impact.
- The unbeaten, table-topping Stormers host the Sharks on Saturday after Friday’s away assignments for the Lions at Ospreys and the Bulls at Edinburgh, with congested standings sharpening the push for points.