Johannesburg - The Lions have made three changes to the side that will face the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby match at Ellis Park on Friday.
Coach John Mitchell has included 22-year-old lock Stephan Greeff in the starting XV, after the team’s disappointing showing in the lineouts in their 27-25 victory over the Cheetahs at the weekend.
This also follows on the injury blow to Wikus van Heerden, who is expected to miss three weeks of rugby due to a concussion he suffered after a tip tackle from Andries Strauss.
Hendrik Roodt, who replaced Van Heerden early in the match, is bracketed on the bench with Pumas lock Marius Coetzer, who is likely to get the nod ahead of Roodt, pending a fitness test.
In the other change to the team, Warren Whiteley will receive a starting berth at eighthman with flank Cobus Grobbelaar moving to the bench.
Lions skipper Joshua Strauss moves to the side of the scrum with Derick Minnie completing the loose trio combination.
Winger Michael Killian will receive his first start of the season, replacing James Kamana who moves to the bench.
Teams:
Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Marius Coetzer/Hendrik Roodt, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Butch James, 22 James Kamana / Lionel Mapoe
Hurricanes:
TBA