Cronje captains Lions

Johannesburg - Lions coach Johan Ackermann has selected his team for Friday’s Currie Cup clash against the Pumas in Nelspruit (19:10 kick-off).

Ackermann has made four personnel changes to the starting forward group, which downed the Sharks 31-16 last weekend.

In the front row, Jacques van Rooyen will start at loosehead prop, with Ruan Dreyer shifting to tighthead.

Additionally, Martin Muller will start at lock, while Fabian Booysen returns to the No 8 berth as a result of the injury to Ruaan Lerm.

As a result of a late quadriceps injury which captain Jaco Kriel sustained during Thursday morning’s captain’s run, Stephan de Wit has also been included in the side at flank. The extent of Kriel’s injury is not known at this stage.

Scrumhalf Ross Cronje will captain the side in Kriel’s absence.

A change in the Lions backline sees Sampie Mastriet start at wing, shifting Ruan Combrinck to fullback, with Jaco van der Walt moving to the bench.

Teams:

Pumas:

15 JW Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 JC Roos, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Giant Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corné Fourie

Substitutes: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Jannie Stander, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz

Golden Lions:

15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan , 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9  Ross Cronje (captain), 8  Fabian Booysen, 7  Stephan de Wit, 6  Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen 

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 MB Lusaseni, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Jaco van der Walt, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Anthony Volmink