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Cape Town - Lions coach Johann Ackermann has explained his decision to bring flank Derick Minnie straight back into his starting XV for their Super Rugby clash against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Minnie, Willie Britz and captain Warren Whiteley are the Lions' loose trio for the clash, while the impressive Jaco Kriel was shifted down to the bench.
"Derick is like a dog after a bone, you know," Ackermann told the Beeld website.
"It's wonderful to have Derick back, because in matches like these we'll need his experience. He is a specialist at the breakdowns and very eager to play. We need players like him to ignite the fire again."
Minnie has recovered from a fractured cheekbone sustained against the Stormers earlier in the season.
Ackermann insisted Kriel was not dropped due to a lack of form.
"Jaco was immediately worried that it was due to form. But I told him it was not the case. After Willie (Britz), he was maybe one of our best players (against the Crusaders last week), but he puts his body on the line so much that we want to keep him fresh before our long (Australasian) tour," said Ackermann.
Kick-off for Saturday's match is scheduled for 19:10.
Teams:
Lions:
15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Willie Britz, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Martin Muller, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Willie Wepener, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Alwyn Hollenbach
Sharks:
15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. S’bura Sithole, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Willem Alberts, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Keegan Daniel, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Paul Jordaan, 23. SP Marais
Minnie, Willie Britz and captain Warren Whiteley are the Lions' loose trio for the clash, while the impressive Jaco Kriel was shifted down to the bench.
"Derick is like a dog after a bone, you know," Ackermann told the Beeld website.
"It's wonderful to have Derick back, because in matches like these we'll need his experience. He is a specialist at the breakdowns and very eager to play. We need players like him to ignite the fire again."
Minnie has recovered from a fractured cheekbone sustained against the Stormers earlier in the season.
Ackermann insisted Kriel was not dropped due to a lack of form.
"Jaco was immediately worried that it was due to form. But I told him it was not the case. After Willie (Britz), he was maybe one of our best players (against the Crusaders last week), but he puts his body on the line so much that we want to keep him fresh before our long (Australasian) tour," said Ackermann.
Kick-off for Saturday's match is scheduled for 19:10.
Teams:
Lions:
15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Willie Britz, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Martin Muller, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Willie Wepener, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Alwyn Hollenbach
Sharks:
15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. S’bura Sithole, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Willem Alberts, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Keegan Daniel, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Paul Jordaan, 23. SP Marais
