Lions shuffle loosies for WP

Johannesburg - Lions Coach John Mitchell has reorganised his loose trio to take on Western Province in their Currie Cup match at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.

In the only change to the starting XV, Cobus Grobbelaar drops out with a rib injury, which changes the look of the side at the back of the scrum.

The Lions come off a 25-all draw with the Cheetahs last weekend.

With a draw and a loss in their last two games, Mitchell has avoided widespread change to his side, which has been performing well throughout the season.

Warren Whitely moves up from the bench to the number eight position, Joshua Strauss shifts from his regular eighthman position to openside flank, and Derick Minnie also shuffles to blindside flank.

"Warren's come in at eight, because of Cobus's injury. Derick Minnie is also a very good openside, and Josh a very good blindside," said Mitchell on Wednesday.

"You'll probably find Josh and Warren mix things up a little off scrums in certain situations based on their strengths."

Mitchell avoided talking about the mistakes his side made in the last few games, where they have started matches slowly.

"I think we're showing good character, to get ourselves back into matches, but naturally you want to start well.

"But those games are gone, it's no use dwelling on something in the past. The important thing is, if a good team can come back it means they can also start well and we have done so a lot in this competition."

In the solitary change to the bench, Jaco Kriel replaces Whiteley, providing cover on the flank.

Teams:

Lions:

15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Burton Francis, 21 Dylan des Fountain, 22 James Kamana

Western Province:

15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage/Nic Groom, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1 JC Kritzinger

Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Hilton Lobberts, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Pieter Louw, 21. Nic Groom/Louis Schreuder, 22. Johann Sadie