LIONS VS THE SHARKS – SUPER RUGBY WARM-UP GAME
Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced a 26-man side to take on The Sharks at Ellis Park this Friday evening.
Ackermann has made wholesale changes to his team that beat the Southern Kings 12-19 in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.
He believes that the match will be the ideal opportunity to mix youth and experience, and will act as a learning curve for those that have not yet come into contact with a side as experienced as The Sharks’.
“Of course it is important for us to avoid further injuries so we have decided to rest some of our players,” Ackermann shared.
“However, I also believe Friday’s game will give some of our young players an opportunity to express themselves and gain some valuable experience. It will be a chance for them to put their hands up for the future.”
In the forwards, Jacques van Rooyen (loosehead), Warwick Tecklenburg (flank) and Willie Britz (eighthman) move up from the bench into the starting XV.
Bees Roux, Lourens Erasmus, Martin Muller and Ruaan Lerm have also been drafted in after solid performances during their Vodacom Cup warm-up game against the Blue Bulls in Polokwane, last Saturday.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Willie du Plessis moves into the starting line-up at flyhalf as Faf de Klerk comes in at scrumhalf. Alwyn Hollenbach and Stokkies Hanekom have been brought in in the midfield, while Deon van Rensburg will start at right wing. Coenie van Wyk comes in at fullback after Andries Coetzee suffered a knee injury during the game against the Southern Kings.
Hollenbach will captain the side.
The match kicks off at 19h00.
15. Coenie van Wyk
14. Deon van Rensburg
13. Stokkies Hanekom
12. Alwyn Hollenbach (c)
11. Chrysander Botha
10. Wilie du Plessis
9. Faf de Klerk
8. Willie Britz
7. Ruaan Lerm
6. Warwick Tecklenburg
5. Martin Muller
4. Lourens Erasmus
3. Bees Roux
2. Willie Wepener
1. Jacques van Rooyen
16. Malcolm Marx
17. Charles Marais
18. Corne Fourie
19. Stephan Vermeulen
20. Hugo Kloppers
21. MB Lusaseni
22. Stephan de Witt
23. Ross Cronje
24. JW Jonker
25. Ruan Combrinck
26. Deon Helberg
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