Mitchell changes two for WP

Johannesburg - Lions coach John Mitchell has made two changes for the important Currie Cup match against Western Province at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night.

Two of last week's stars in the win over the Leopards, lock Johan Snyman and flank Renaldo Bothma, will have to show their wares from the bench.

They are respectively replaced by George Earle, who was rested last weekend and Derek Minnie who had an injury niggle. Both the men back into the starting line-up have been regular starters for the Lions in the tournament.

On the bench Marius Delport returns in place of Pieter Engelbrecht.

The Lions face Western Province after winning their last three matches to put themselves within striking distance of the top five teams on the Currie Cup log.

They are only three log points behind the fifth-placed Griquas side and four log points adrift of the Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs.

Western Province, on the other hand, have lost their last two matches after winning the first six.

Mitchell warned that the Lions' real test would be in the coming weeks when they face WP, Sharks and Griquas at home in matches they must win to put pressure on the top sides. They also play the Pumas at home in what could be a difficult match. The Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls are away matches.

Deon Van Rensburg, David Bulbring, Tonderai Chavhanga, Kevin Buys, Trevor Hall and Wandile Mjekevu were not considered because of injury.

Teams:

Lions:

15. Jaco Taute, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Joshua Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. George Earle, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Martin Bezuidenhout , 1. JC Janse van Rensburg.

Substitutes: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Wayne Swart, 18. Johan Snyman, 19. Renaldo Bothma, 20. JP Joubert, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Marius Delport

Western Province:

15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. JJ Engelbrecht, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. Frikkie Welsh, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Nick Koster, 6. Francois Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (captain), 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. JD Moller

Substitutes: 16. Callie Visagie, 17. Wicus Blaauw, 18. Buhle Mxunyelwa, 19. De Kock Steenkamp, 20. Pieter Myburgh, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Marcel Brache