Lions name side for Mission Impossible against Leinster in Dublin

The hosts might be coming off a bruising loss to Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final last week, but the Irish giants are full of talent, class, and boast a superlative home record.

As for the Lions, former Blitzbok star JC Pretorius will make his 50th international appearance as the Johannesburg franchise make history in their first-ever playoff fixture since joining the competition in 2021.

Ivan van Rooyen's men come up against Irish giants Leinster at the Aviva in Dublin this Saturday, a team they faced three weeks ago in the round-robin stages at the same venue.

The Lions enter Saturday's quarterfinal with a settled 23 after injury concerns threatened stability last week, but those, however, have been overcome. Skipper Francke Horne and centre Henco van Wyk have been cleared and are fit to face Leo Cullen's Leinster.

Scrumhalf Nico Steyn starts in place of the injured Morne van den Berg, who is recovering from a bicep injury, while Erich Cronje returns to the left wing after missing out against Munster.

Experienced hooker Franco Marias returns to the fold as an impact player alongside Rynhardt Jonker and Haashim Pead.

Despite last week's loss, Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys believes the reigning URC champions remain a quality outfit. The former Springbok prop simplified the approach in what is expected to be a physical encounter in the Irish capital on the weekend.

"The team that goes forward when contact takes place has a better chance, whether it's attack, defence or set piece," he said.

"We know what we want to achieve this weekend, and we believe if we get that right, it will give us a good chance."

Lions - 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horne (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Rynhard Jonker, 23 Haashim Pead.

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