Lions vs All Blacks: Venter, Horn Released, Notshe In Line For Debut

Boan Venter

Boan Venter set for Lions debut against All Blacks at Ellis Park. Venter in line for Lions debut as Springboks release players for All Blacks clash.

Springboks release Venter for Lions debut vs All Blacks...

South Africa have let fullback Quan Horn and prop Boan Venter leave the Springbok camp to turn out for the Lions against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Tuesday.

Venter was named on the bench on Monday and could make his first appearance for the Lions. He joined the Johannesburg side after a spell with Edinburgh in Scotland.

Former Springbok loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe could also make his first appearance for the Lions. The ex-France-based club player is also on the bench.

Lions scrumhalf Morné van den Berg was not released from the Springbok squad, so he’s now more likely to feature against the All Blacks in Saturday’s second test in Cape Town.

This is the fourth and final provincial match for the touring All Blacks. They’ve already beaten the Stormers in Cape Town, the Sharks in Durban and the Bulls in Pretoria.

New Zealand were also at Ellis Park last Saturday, where they beat South Africa 33-16 in the first test of the four-match series.

Lions team

Starters: 15-Quan Horn, 14-Kelly Mpeku, ‌13-Henco van Wyk, 12-Richard Kriel, 11-Erich Cronje, 10-Chris Smith, 9-Nico Steyn, 8-Francke Horn (captain), ‌7-Batho Hlekani, 6-Siba Mahashe, 5-Ruan Delport, 4-Etienne Oosthuizen, 3-Sebastian Lombard, 2-PJ Botha, 1-SJ Kotze.

Replacements: 16-Morne Brandon, 17-Boan Venter, 18-RF Schoeman, 19-Hyron Andrews, 20-Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21-JC ⁠Pretorius, 22-Haashim Pead, ⁠23-Boeta Chamberlain

All Blacks team

Starters: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Fehi Fineanganofo, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11-Emoni ‌Narawa, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 9-Noah Hotham, 8-Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 6-Wallace Sititi, 5-Patrick Tuipulotu, 4-Sam Darry, 3-Pasilio Tosi, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1-Siale Lauaki

Replacements: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18-Saula Mau, ⁠19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Peter ⁠Lakai, 21-Kyle Preston, ‌22-Josh Jacomb, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown