JOHANNESBURG – Lions boss Swys de Bruin has again rung the changes, this time making seven, for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with the Stormers at Newlands.
The Lions coach has rotated his front-row, back-row, centres, and back-three for the clash – a match that should the Lions win it will see them extend their unbeaten run against local opposition to 21 outings going back to May 2015.
De Bruin’s men go into the clash on the back of a win against the Brumbies, while the Stormers are coming off a defeat by the Sunwolves. All the teams enjoy a month’s break after this weekend’s action, to allow for Test matches to be played in June.
At this stage the Lions enjoy a seven-point lead at the top of the SA Conference, with the Jaguares second. The Stormers are in fifth position in the local conference and virtually out of the running to feature in the playoffs.
For the Lions Aphiwe Dyantyi is back in his favourite postion of wing, and he’s joined out wide by Ruan Combrinck, with the centres this week being Harold Vorster and Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Lionel Mapoe is still nursing a groin injury.
The backrow is also an interesting mix picked by De Bruin, with the two specialist ball-poachers in Kwagga Smith at No 8 and Marnus Schoeman at openside flank. Captain Franco Mostert will wear the No 7 on his back.
There are also six changes on the bench from last week, with lock Rhyno Herbst getting his first taste of Super Rugby should he be used.
The Lions team is:
Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Harold Vorster, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom, Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert, Marnus Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Lourens Erasmus, Ruan Dreyer, Robbie Coetzee, Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: Corne Fourie, Dylan Smith, Jacobie Adriaanse, Rhyno Herbst, Hacjivah Dayimani, Ross Cronje, Madosh Tambwe, Sylvian Mahuza
@jacq_west
IOL Sport