Former Blitzbok Angelo Davids set for Lions debut in Currie Cup battle with Sharks
Rugby
Former Stormers wing Angelo Davids will hope to carry his try-scoring form to new team the Lions, starting on Saturday in the Currie Cup match against the Sharks.
Image: Bothma/BackpagePix
Angelo Davids will make his eagerly anticipated debut on the right wing for the Lions in Saturday’s opening Currie Cup match against the Sharks at Ellis Park Stadium (3pm kickoff), while Rabz Maxwane returns to the left wing after a long injury.
Hooker Jaco Visagie will lead the Lions once more this season, and will be hoping to go one step further in the competition after losing to the Sharks in last year's final. On Saturday, they get the chance to lay down an early marker against the Durban side.
The Lions racked up an impressive 437 points last season by playing an enterprising brand of running rugby, and Davids could be key for them to repeat those performances this season.
The 25-year-old flyer recently joined the Lions from the Stormers, where he made 37 appearances since 2020. His move followed the departure of Springboks winger Edwill van der Merwe to the Sharks.
Van der Merwe was in scintillating try-scoring form for the Springboks in the mid-year Tests, netting a brace in Tests against Italy and Georgia.
Lubabalo Dobela will run out in the No 10 jersey, while another playmaker Gianni Lombard slots in at fullback.
Lions squad to face Sharks in Currie Cup opener.
Image: Supplied
Lions starting XV to face Sharks:
15 Gianni Lombard 14 Angelo Davids 13 Manuel Rass 12 Rynhardt Jonker 11 Rabz Maxwane 10 Lubabalo Dobela 9 Nico Steyn 8 WJ Steenkamp 7 Izan Esterhuizen 6 Jarod Cairns 5 Darrien Landsberg 4 Raynard Roets 3 RF Schoeman 2 Jaco Visagie (capt) 1 Morgan Naude.
Replacements: 16 Morgan Naude 17 SJ Kotze 18 Heiko Pohlmann 19 Dylan Sjoblom 20 Renzo du Plessis 21 Layton Horn 22 Kade Wolhuter 23 Kelly Mpeku.