Lions' try machine gets Super 12 call-up

Barry Glasspool|Published 25 years ago

Dean Hall gets his first Super 12 chance of the campaign in the crucial clash with the Wellington Hurricanes in Palmerston North on Saturday.

The powerful Lions wing takes the place of provincial team-mate, Jannie van der Walt, who has lost out because of defensive fragilities in last week's unlucky 33-31 defeat against top of the table Otago Highlanders.

It's the only change in the backs, although coach Laurie Mains has bracketed Springboks Japie Mulder and Hennie le Roux as Grant Esterhuizen's centre partner.

Le Roux played last week but has slight flu and is likely to be left out of the starting line-up which would mean Mulder plays his first full Super 12 match since limping off with an ankle injury against the Stormers three weeks ago.

Hall, 22, was a prolific try-scorer in the Lions' Currie and Vodacom Cup double last year and flew over to reinforce the squad after the defeat by the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.

Mac Masina could come on at some stage in the second half. The Cats have spent the last few days in the South Island resort of Queenstown and fly to the match venue in the North Island on Thursday.

Andre Vos keeps the captaincy for this match although Johan Erasmus makes his second appearance since making his comeback against the Highlanders following a six-week layoff for corrective surgery on a pelvic problem.

The only changes in the pack see Jannes Labuschagne swop places at lock with Victor Matfield while Leon Boshoff returns at hooker for Delarey du Preez. The former was forced to withdraw last week after ricking his neck in final training. Labuschagne will jump at No 4, with Johan Ackermann as front jumper.

Cats:

Tinus Delport, Chester Williams, Grant Esterhuizen, Japie Mulder/Hennie le Roux, Dean Hall, Louis Koen, Werner Swanepoel, Andre Vos (c), Andre Venter, Johan Erasmus, Jannes Labuschagne, Johan Ackermann, Willie Meyer, Leon Boshoff, Marius Mostert. Bench: Mac Masina, Le Roux/Mulder, Jimmy Powell, Piet Krause, Victor Matfield, Adrian Garvey, Delarey du Preez.