Muir gives Rose the boot

Garrin Lambley

Cape Town - Lions coach Dick Muir has lost faith in fullback Earl Rose, dropping the out-of-form No 15 to the bench for their Super 14 match against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday.

Kick off is at 08:35 SA time.

In other changes to the team still searching for their first victory of the tournament, wing Wandile Mjekevu joins Rose on the bench with Michael Killian and Tonderai Chavhanga starting in their respective places.

Flyhalf Carlos Spencer returns to the starting XV at the expense of Burton Francis, who drops out of the match 22 altogether.

In the only change to the forwards, lock Nico Luus comes in for George Earle.

Teams:

Highlanders:
15. Israel Dagg, 14. Ben Smith 13. Kendrick Lynn, 12. Michael Hobbs, 11. James Paterson, 10. Robbie Robinson, 9. Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8. Steven Setephano, 7. John Hardie, 6. Adam Thomson 5. Hayden Triggs, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 3. Clint Newland, 2. Jason Rutledge, 1. Jamie Mackintosh

Substitutes: 16. Jason Macdonald, 17. Bronson Murray, 18. Joe Tuineau, 19. Tim Boys, 20. Sean Romans, 21. Jason Shoemark, 22. Fetu’u Vainikolo

Lions:
15. Michael Killian, 14. Wigan Pekeur, 13. Walter Venter, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Tonderai Chavhanga, 10. Carlos Spencer, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Todd Clever, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Nico Luus, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Hannes Franklin, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16. Charles Emslie, 17. Heinke van der Merwe, 18. Willem Stoltz, 19. Robert Kruger, 20. JP Joubert, 21. Wandile Mjekevu, 22. Earl Rose