Flyhalf change for Lions

Jaco van der Walt will start at flyhalf for the Golden Lions in one of three changes to the side to face the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Van der Walt has missed the Lions' last two matches after suffering a knee injury in the 60-19 victory over the EP Kings a couple of weeks back. His return will be a welcome relief for coach Johan Ackermann who tinkered at flyhalf in his absence, with mixed results.

Andries Coetzee, who started at flyhalf last weekend, will move to fullback, while Ruan Combrinck will shift to the left wing.

In the forwards, Derick Minnie returns to captain the side from eighthman, while Willie Wepener will start after coming off the bench last weekend.

Springboks Sevens player Mark Richards is set to make his Lions debut should he make it onto the field.

Golden Lions – 15. Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Derick Minnie (c), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Howard Mnisi.

Photo: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images