De Klerk, Jantjies start for Lions

Cape Town - Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named his team to tackle the Brumbies in a Super Rugby clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Ackermann made three changes to the backline that did duty against the Highlanders last week.

Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies return as the starting halfback pair, with Ross Cronje slipping down to the bench and Marnitz Boshoff left out of the match-day 23.

With Boshoff dropped, Jaco van der Walt provides flyhalf cover off the bench.

De Klerk and Jantjies came on at half-time last weekend to help the Lions overturn a 20-3 deficit to win 28-23.

Lionel Mapoe, having fully recovered from injury, also starts at right wing, with Ruan Combrinck shifting to left wing and Courtnall Skosan missing out.

Up front, meanwhile, Ackermann also made two changes.

Martin Muller starts at lock in place of Andries Ferreira and Robert Kruger moves into the starting line-up at flank, with Warwick Tecklenburg dropping down to the bench.

Saturday’s clash at Emirates Airline Park kicks off at 17:05.

Teams:

Lions:

15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Ruan Combrinck, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Robert Kruger, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Martin Muller, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Howard Mnisi

Brumbies:

15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Allan Alaalatoa

Substitutes: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Jordan Smiler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 James Dargaville, 23 Robbie Coleman