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Johannesburg - Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named his 23-man team to front the Auckland-based Blues at Ellis Park on Saturday.
According to the Lions' official website, Ackermann has made several changes to the team that lost 37-23 to the Sharks in Durban last weekend.
In the forwards, Robbie Coetzee returns to the starting line-up and Willie Britz will start at flank. As a result, both Willie Wepener and Warwick Tecklenburg will provide cover on the bench.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Marnitz Boshoff shifts back to flyhalf in place of Elton Jantjies. Courtnall Skosan, JW Jonker and Coenie van Wyk all earn spaces in the starting XV as Jantjies and Ruan Combrinck are moved to the bench with Chrysander Botha dropping out of the squad.
Jantjies started at flyhalf last week but struggled in the Shark Tank, which prompted Ackermann to move Boshoff back into the No 10 jersey having played fullback in Durban.
Saturday's match will kick off at 15:00 and will be preceded by a Vodacom Cup clash between the Golden Lions and Falcons.
Teams:
Lions:
15. Coenie van Wyk, 14. JW Jonker, 13. Deon van Rensburg, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Willie Britz, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Corné Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Ruan Combrinck
Blues:
15. Benji Marshall, 14. Frank Halai, 13. George Moala, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Charles Piutau, 10. Chris Noakes, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Steven Luatua, 7. Luke Braid (Captain), 6. Brendon O'Connor, 5. Tom Donnelly, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Liaki Moli, 20. Jordan Manihera, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Simon Hickey, 23. Jackson Willison
According to the Lions' official website, Ackermann has made several changes to the team that lost 37-23 to the Sharks in Durban last weekend.
In the forwards, Robbie Coetzee returns to the starting line-up and Willie Britz will start at flank. As a result, both Willie Wepener and Warwick Tecklenburg will provide cover on the bench.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Marnitz Boshoff shifts back to flyhalf in place of Elton Jantjies. Courtnall Skosan, JW Jonker and Coenie van Wyk all earn spaces in the starting XV as Jantjies and Ruan Combrinck are moved to the bench with Chrysander Botha dropping out of the squad.
Jantjies started at flyhalf last week but struggled in the Shark Tank, which prompted Ackermann to move Boshoff back into the No 10 jersey having played fullback in Durban.
Saturday's match will kick off at 15:00 and will be preceded by a Vodacom Cup clash between the Golden Lions and Falcons.
Teams:
Lions:
15. Coenie van Wyk, 14. JW Jonker, 13. Deon van Rensburg, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Willie Britz, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Corné Fourie, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Ruan Combrinck
Blues:
15. Benji Marshall, 14. Frank Halai, 13. George Moala, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Charles Piutau, 10. Chris Noakes, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Steven Luatua, 7. Luke Braid (Captain), 6. Brendon O'Connor, 5. Tom Donnelly, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Liaki Moli, 20. Jordan Manihera, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Simon Hickey, 23. Jackson Willison
