Publications
Partners
Coach John Mitchell therefore made only two changes to the starting line-up - and he had the further luxury of including Wikus van Heerden on the bench.
In the backline Doppies la Grange is fit from a hamstring niggle and replaces Burton Francis at inside centre. Lock Johan Snyman moves down to the bench and the more experienced George Earle will partner captain Franco van der Merwe in the second row.
Former Lions and Bulls captain Van Heerden, who earlier this year returned to the Lions Super 14 side from his stint overseas, has also recovered from injury and will add depth and experience from the bench. The Springbok replaces young Renaldo Bothma.
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. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (capt.), 4. George Earle, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2.Martin Bezuidenhout, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Wayne Swart, 18. Johan Snyman, 19. Wikus van Heerden, 20. JP Joubert, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Marius Delport
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13
Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10
Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7
CJ Stander, 6 Derick Kuün (captain), 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der
Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Okkie Kruger, 21 Dustin Jinka, 22 Stephan Dippenaar
