The Fidelity SecureDrive Lions step onto the Ellis Park turf on Saturday with the scent of opportunity in the air, their playoff ambitions gathering pace as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship surges toward a dramatic finish.
The Johannesburg outfit have been playing with a spark that has lit up the Highveld in recent weeks, their attacking game flowing like quick ball through slick hands. Yet Connacht arrive with their own blueprint and belief, ready to test the Lions in the thin air where matches often swing on tempo and resilience.
Round 16 arrives with the intensity of a knockout match, every carry and collision shaping the Race to the Eight and the promise of European qualification.
Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has tweaked his pack with four changes, fine-tuning combinations rather than tearing up the script. A positional shift sees Springbok forward Ruan Venter move into the engine room, while Batho Hlekani steps into the loose trio with the eagerness of youth and the promise of impact.
The heartbeat of the afternoon, though, belongs to hooker PJ Botha. The 28-year-old reaches his 100th appearance for the franchise, a milestone forged through years of graft in the tight exchanges where matches are often won.
“When I was still at school, I thought it would be nice to maybe play one or two matches for a franchise in an international competition,” he said.
“To now reach 100 is incredible. The time has flown. It’s a privilege for me to reach this milestone, and I’m grateful that it will happen in a home match.”
Botha’s journey mirrors the grind of forward play itself, built on patience, repetition and quiet authority. His presence at the set piece will be central as the Lions look to lay a platform against a Connacht side known for their structure and attacking shape.
Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys expects a familiar challenge, drawing parallels with a recent emphatic win.
“We know what they will bring. We know their game model. It’s not easy to defend or attack against it, but if we do what we need to do well, I am sure there will be opportunities,” he said.
That belief is rooted in last week’s commanding performance, where the Lions pack roared through contact and their backline struck with precision. Replicating that edge will be vital against a Connacht outfit that thrives on tempo and spatial awareness.
100 up for PJ Botha this Saturday 🦁
Here’s your Fidelity SecureDrive Lions team for the clash against Connacht.@Vodacom #URC|#KidsRound | #LIOvCON| #ForOurCity| #LionsPride pic.twitter.com/tJQryj7WPB
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) April 24, 2026
On the bench, Morne Brandon returns to add punch in the closing stages, while Siba Qoma offers cover in the second row. It is a 23 built for sustained pressure, aiming to stretch the contest deep into the final quarter.
With kick-off at 16:00, Ellis Park is poised to become a cauldron once more. For the Lions, this is more than another fixture. It is a chance to tighten their grip on a playoff place and keep their season charging forward with the force of a well-timed surge to the try line.
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions Match 23
Starting XV
1. SJ Kotze, 2. PJ Botha (100), 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 4. Ruan Venter, 5. Darrien Landsberg, 6. Siba Mahashe, 7. Batho Hlekani, 8. Francke Horn (captain), 9. Morne van den Berg, 10. Chris Smith, 11. Erich Cronje, 12. Richard Kriel, 13. Henco van Wyk, 14. Angelo Davids, 15. Quan Horn
Replacements
16. Morne Brandon, 17. Eddie Davids, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. Reinhard Nothnagel, 20. Siba Qoma, 21. JC Pretorius, 22. Nico Steyn, 23. Kelly Mpeku
