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Johannesburg - While there was a chance that Lions centre Doppies la Grange would have passed a late fitness test ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby contest against the Western Force in Johannesburg, coach John Mitchell made it clear that he would not be taking any risks.
Kick-off is at 17:05.
VIDEO: James Kamana's spear tackle
"Even if he was right I would probably not risk him," Mitchell said on Thursday.
"It's about managing the players and I think at times we have not managed our players in the past by sending them out with injuries."
With La Grange expected to return only for next week's match against the Bulls in Pretoria, Waylon Murray will make the switch from outside to inside centre with Murray's regular position filled by Janie Boshoff.
Mitchell also rewarded scrumhalf Rory Kockott with another start ahead of Jano Vermaak who was included on the bench after missing last week's match because of concussion.
"Jano is 100%, we've just gone with a winning combination," said Mitchell.
"Rory had a very good game [against the Cheetahs last week] and has very good communication strengths within the group and he kept the ball ahead of the forwards.
"Jano understands the situation and he will serve the team from the bench."
Due to fullback James Kamana's three-week suspension for a spear tackle, Jaco Taute will make his return to the run-on team the week after he was demoted.
The Lions have also decided not to appeal against the sentence Kamana received for a dangerous tackle on Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn.
"I've obviously got experience of taking players to appeals before," Mitchell said.
"We got some further legal advice and we also collaborated with the players' association and we just believe that in the end he's received a fair sanction."
In the final change to the side that recorded a 25-20 victory over the Cheetahs to end a 17-match losing streak, former Leopards stalwart Deon van Rensburg will fill in for Taute on the bench.
Teams:
Lions:
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Jannie Boshoff, 12. Waylon Murray, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Partic Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Kevin Buys, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Baywatch Grobbelaar, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Deon van Rensburg
Western Force:
TBA
Kick-off is at 17:05.
VIDEO: James Kamana's spear tackle
"Even if he was right I would probably not risk him," Mitchell said on Thursday.
"It's about managing the players and I think at times we have not managed our players in the past by sending them out with injuries."
With La Grange expected to return only for next week's match against the Bulls in Pretoria, Waylon Murray will make the switch from outside to inside centre with Murray's regular position filled by Janie Boshoff.
Mitchell also rewarded scrumhalf Rory Kockott with another start ahead of Jano Vermaak who was included on the bench after missing last week's match because of concussion.
"Jano is 100%, we've just gone with a winning combination," said Mitchell.
"Rory had a very good game [against the Cheetahs last week] and has very good communication strengths within the group and he kept the ball ahead of the forwards.
"Jano understands the situation and he will serve the team from the bench."
Due to fullback James Kamana's three-week suspension for a spear tackle, Jaco Taute will make his return to the run-on team the week after he was demoted.
The Lions have also decided not to appeal against the sentence Kamana received for a dangerous tackle on Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn.
"I've obviously got experience of taking players to appeals before," Mitchell said.
"We got some further legal advice and we also collaborated with the players' association and we just believe that in the end he's received a fair sanction."
In the final change to the side that recorded a 25-20 victory over the Cheetahs to end a 17-match losing streak, former Leopards stalwart Deon van Rensburg will fill in for Taute on the bench.
Teams:
Lions:
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Jannie Boshoff, 12. Waylon Murray, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Partic Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Kevin Buys, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Baywatch Grobbelaar, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Deon van Rensburg
Western Force:
TBA
