Lions freshen things up

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made several changes for the match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Ackermann has opted to rotate several players as the Lions look to put last weekend's lethargic performance against the Brumbies behind them.

Jacques van Rooyen and Ruan Dreyer will start in the front row, with Julian Redelinghuys and Schalk van der Merwe dropping to the bench. Elsewhere in the pack, Andries Ferreira comes into the second row alongside Martin Muller, while Warwick Tecklenburg returns to the starting XV at flank.

There are further changes in the backline where Ackermann has selected a new centre pairing. Howard Mnisi will start at inside centre, with Lionel Mapoe shifting back to outside centre after starting last weekend's defeat to the Brumbies on the wing.

The final change sees Courtnall Skosan make a return on the left wing, with Ruan Combrinck shifting on the right.

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Harold Vorster.

Super Rugby teams (Round 15)

Photo: Anne Laing/HSM Images