Overview
- The Lions can clinch a first United Rugby Championship playoff berth by beating Connacht at Ellis Park on Saturday.
- Johannesburg’s side sit fourth on 48 points after five straight wins, while Connacht are ninth on 44 after six in a row.
- Ellis Park has become a home stronghold with five successive victories, including last weekend’s 54-12 rout of leaders Glasgow.
- Connacht travel with setbacks as Cathal Forde is out with a wrist injury and Sean Jansen and Dave Heffernan are being monitored, and they adjusted plans to limit altitude effects with a late move to Johannesburg and a brief run at the stadium.
- The Lions close the regular season with away games at Leinster and Munster, so banking points at home now could ease a difficult Irish tour.