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As promised, coach John Mitchell rang in the changes after his team’s disappointing 27-15 loss to the Western Force last week by announcing five changes and three positional switches to his team on Thursday.
Grobbelaar comes in at openside flank with Derick Minnie covering the blindside in the place of Josh Strauss who drops to the bench.
In the second-row, David Bulbring will earn his first start ahead of Wikus van Heerden who will sit this one out because of a hamstring injury.
At the back, Jano Vermaak and Rory Kockott were rotated at scrumhalf while Doppies la Grange will make his return from injury at centre.
Waylon Murray will therefore be wearing the number 13 jersey after covering at 12 for La Grange last week.
Mitchell has also decided to shift Michael Killian from wing to fullback with the final change being the inclusion of Deon van Rensburg in the position left vacant by Killian.
On the bench Michael Rhodes is the only player that was used as a sub last week.
Former Springbok Andre Pretorius, hooker Edgar Marutlulle, and prop Jacobie Adriaanseare set to earn their first Super Rugby caps of the year.
Teams
Lions:
15. Michael Killian, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies La Grange, 11. Deon van Rensburg, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Whitely, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobelaar, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. David Bullbring, 3. Patric Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Jacobie Adriaanse, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Joshua Strauss, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Andre Pretorius, 22. Jaco Taute
Bulls:
Substitutes: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Derick Kuün, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Francois Brummer
