Lions XV at full strength

Courtnall Skosan of the Lions scores a try in the corner during the 2016 Super Rugby game between the Lions and the Crusaders at Ellis Park. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky

Courtnall Skosan of the Lions scores a try in the corner during the 2016 Super Rugby game between the Lions and the Crusaders at Ellis Park. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky

Published Jul 26, 2016

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Johannesbrug - For the second week in a row, Lions boss Johan Ackermann will have a fully-fit first choice squad to select from for this weekend’s Super Rugby semi-final against the Highlanders.

The good news for the Lions last week was the return to action of regular captain Warren Whiteley and this week the squad have pretty much been given the all-clear for Saturday’s 3pm kick-off.

A win for the Lions and a victory for the Chiefs against the Hurricanes in New Zealand will ensure a home final at Ellis Park next week.

Whiteley played little more than the first half against the Crusaders last weekend, coming back sooner than expected from a shoulder injury, but is set for a longer haul this week.

“The shoulder held up really well,” said Whiteley, after the victory over the seven-time former champions.

“It’s 100 percent fine ... it took a big knock early in the game and for a moment I wondered whether it would be fine, but yes, it’s all good.”

The only concern for the Lions is back-up scrumhalf Ross Cronje, who has a bad bruise on his ankle. He picked up the injury late in the game when a Crusaders player fell awkwardly on him.

A call on his availability will be taken later in the week.If he is unavailable for the Highlanders match, it is unlikely coach Johan Ackermann will name a replacement scrumhalf in his matchday squad.

Earlier this season when Cronje broke his nose and didn’t travel with his team-mates to Japan and New Zealand, the back-up to Faf de Klerk was Jaco van der Walt, and he could fill in there again this time.

That would open the door for Sylvian Mahuza to rejoin the matchday squad.The starting XV is likely to be unchanged from last week, allowing for several players to continue their rapid rise in South African rugby.

Here one thinks of lock Franco Mostert and centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg, two of the stars in the win over the Crusaders.

Mostert ranked fourth in tackles made last weekend, with 12, while Janse van Rensburg ranked joint second in the defenders beaten category, with five.

The Highlanders, meanwhile, will get their preparations under way today after arriving in South Africa yesterday and while they’ll know they got the better of the Lions when the teams met in round three in Dunedin (34-15), it was the Lions who won the match prior to that, at Ellis Park in early May last season.

Second half tries by Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel and Harold Vorster and two late penalties by Elton Jantjies helped the Lions to turn round a half-time score of 3-20 to win 28-23.

Ackermann and Co won’t want to play catch-up again, admitting after the Crusaders game that making a good start is vital in Super Rugby.

“It was crucial scoring two early tries (against the Crusaders). It boosted our self-belief and gave us momentum ... and put them under pressure. The roles were reversed from the last time we faced them and it counted.”

The Highlanders are coming off a 15-9 quarter-final win against the Brumbies and will also be at full strength after reporting no major injury concerns among their first choice players.

Only replacement prop Siosiua Halanukonuka misses out because of injury from the Brumbies game.Both coaches will name their teams on Thursday.

The Star

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