Lions hopeful on Jantjies

Cape Town - The Lions are hopeful that flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be ready to face the Crusaders in a Super Rugby clash in Johannesburg on Friday.

Jantjies is struggling with a wrist injury and has been bracketed with Marnitz Boshoff in the starting team.

“Elton trained well today (Tuesday) and did everything expected of him. He tackled, ran, kicked and made contact, but we’ll first see how his injured wrist responds tomorrow morning,” Ackermann told Netwerk24.

“If need be, then we’ll wait until the final moments to give him enough chance to recover.”

Lock Andries Ferreira has also been bracketed with Lourens Erasmus. This was not done because of injury, but just to see which player will fit in best with the pattern the Lions want to play on Friday night.

“Andries is a hard worker up front, while Makou (Erasmus) has X-factor. I still have to decide which of the two will fit in the best with the way we want to play.”

The only definite change at this stage is the return of Warwick Tecklenburg to the starting team. He replaces with Ruan Ackermann who drops down to the bench. 

Friday’s clash is scheduled for 19:00.

Teams: 

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies/Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira/Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith 

Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Crusaders 

TBA