Cape Town - Jaco Kriel is relishing the challenge of captaining the Lions for the remainder of the Super Rugby campaign.
Kriel has been handed the captain’s armband due to regular skipper Warren Whiteley being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a shoulder injury.
Kriel, who made his Test debut in the recent series against Ireland, has already shifted his focus to his new role.
“I’m looking forward to again be in the starting team and to get the chance to play a full match. I’m also lucky to have enough senior players around me who can help with a leadership role,” Kriel told Netwerk24.
“I’m going to concentrate on giving my best and as such be a leader in my own position. We’ll have to work hard and stick to our structures.”
Kriel’s first outing as captain is against the Sharks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
“We know the Sharks are going to come for us and they’ve already made no secret about the fact that every game is now like a final for them. We therefore have to brace for a severe assault.”
Saturday's clash at Ellis Park is scheduled for 17:10.
Teams:
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith
Substitutes: 16 Armand Van Der Merwe,17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen,19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Sylvian Mahuza
Sharks
15. Odwa Ndungane, 14 JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Garth April, 9. Michael Claassens, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Franco Marais, 1. Tendai Mtawarira (captain)
Substitutes: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Ruan Botha, 20. Tera Mtembu, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Rhyno Smith, 23. S'bura Sithole