The Lions are set to face their toughest test yet in the United Rugby Championship as they host table-topping Glasgow Warriors at Ellis Park on Saturday. The Lions, who are having their best-ever season in the URC, will be looking to lead their side to a win against the Scots, who have the best attack in the competition under South African coach Franco Smith.
URC Clash Preview
The Lions have a good chance at a venue where they hammered the Warriors the last time they visited, with the score of 44-21 flattering the losers. However, the last time the teams met was in Glasgow last year, and Glasgow won that one 42-0. It is likely to be a lot closer on Saturday, and since the Warriors lost at Ellis Park in 2024, they beat the Bulls in a final up the road in Pretoria.
A victory for the Lions would be a huge boost to their hopes of finishing in the top eight for the first time in history. The Lions know they need to bank wins in their final two home games — next week they host Connacht — before heading to Ireland for their two-game tour against Irish giants Leinster and Munster. They do not want the pressure of having to beat those tough Irish sides to qualify for the playoffs.
Glasgow Coach Comments
Glasgow coach Smith highlighted the Lions’ threats and how his team hopes to nullify them. “The Lions pose one of the toughest away tests in the URC, defending a strong home record as they chase a place in the play-offs. Their brand of rugby can cause problems for any team, with a blend of physical forwards and backs that can run the ball from anywhere on the field.” According to the United Rugby Championship rules, the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher said the Warriors have their full attention. “The focus is on Glasgow and our processes,” he said. “Once you start thinking about needing a certain number of points, you lose sight of what’s in front of you.”
Here are the lineups for the two teams:
- Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze
- Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Edward David
The Lions will be looking to stop the Warriors’ momentum and create their own. As explained on the South African Rugby Union website, momentum is key in rugby.
