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Wikus to lead Lions

Johannesburg - Lions coach Dick Muir has made a number of changes to the side for Saturday’s last Super 14 match of the season against the Cheetahs in Welkom, with captain Cobus Grobbelaar getting a break.

In another notable selection young Jaco Taute gets a chance at centre. Muir has been impressed with the former Monnas schoolboy who played Currie Cup rugby last year while still at school.

Grobbelaar indicated that he was available despite the birth of his first child (a boy) this week. A quad injury has however forced coach Dick Muir to give Grobbelaar a rest.

Lock Franco van der Merwe moves to flank in Grobbelaar’s place and is replaced at lock by Nico Luus.

The team will be led by Wikus van Heerden, who is no newcomer to the captaincy at Super 14 level.

At centre, Marius Delport returns to partner Taute who gets his first Super 14 start as Delport’s centre partner. Walter Venter is being rested and Deon van Rensburg, who partnered Venter in midfield last weekend, moves to the wing in place of Michael Killian who is on the bench.

Tighthead Ross Geldenhuys starts in place of Gert Muller and Jonathan Mokuena replaces  Justin Wheeler as the bench loose forward. An interesting selection on the bench is that of young lock David Bulbring.

Teams:

Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Bjorn Basson, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman/Corné Uys, 11. Corné Uys/Wilmaure Louw, 10. Naas Olivier, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Juan Smith (captain), 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Barend Pieterse, 4. Izak van der Westhuizen, 3. WP Nel, 2. Skipper Badenhorst, 1. Wian du Preez

Substitutes: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Davon Raubenheimer, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Louis Strydom, 22. Riaan Viljoen

Lions:
15. Carlos Spencer, 14. Tonderai Chavhanga, 13. Marius Delport, 12. Jaco Taute, 11. Deon van Rensburg, 10. Herkie Kruger, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Derick Minnie, 7. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Wikus van Heerden (captain), 5. George Earle, 4. Nico Luus, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Charles Emslie, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16. Hannes Franklin, 17. Gert Muller, 18. David Bulbring, 19. Jonathan Mokuena, 20. Jacques Coetzee, 21. Michael Killian, 22. Bernardo Botha
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