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Johannesburg - Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named his team to play the Free State Cheetahs in their Currie Cup opener at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.
Springboks Butch James and CJ van der Linde are welcome inclusions for the defending Currie Cup champions.
James missed their 26-27 friendly loss to the Bulls last Friday. He replaces Elton Jantjies at flyhalf after the latter was called up to the Springbok squad, while prop Van der Linde finally returns after a long injury layoff.
Prop JC Janse van Rensburg will lead the side after Josh Strauss recently quit the captaincy. Straus is still picked at No 7 flank though.
Kick-off is at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Lions:
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 JR Esterhuizen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco Van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Substitutes: Francois Du Toit, CJ Van der Linde, Willie Britz, Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronje, Guy Cronje, Ruan Combrinck.
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Lappies Labuschagné, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Waltie Vermeulen, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Substitutes: 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.
