Lions mix and match

The Lions have named two sides of varying strengths to face Pukke and the Leopards in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

Warren Whiteley will lead the Lions out against Pukke, while Julian Redelinghuys has been handed the captaincy for the clash against the Leopards.

The side to face the Leopards has just five changes to the one that suffered defeat in the Currie Cup final at Newlands in October, with four of those coming in the backline.

Marnitz Boshoff has been restored to flyhalf, with Andries Coetzee starting in the last line of defence. Elsewhere, new recruit Sampie Mastriet gets a chance to impress on the wing, while Stokkies Hanekom has recovered from the broken leg he suffered against the Sharks.

Up front, the only change comes at lock, with Lourens Erasmus replacing Martin Muller.

The side to face the Leopards has a much more youthful look about it, with SA U20 players Malcolm Marx and Luan Jacobs among those in the starting lineup.

Lions (vs Pukke) – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Mark Pretorius, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Pieter Scholtz, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Thabo Mabuza, 22 Victor Sekekete, 23 Faf de Klerk, 24 Shaun Reynolds, 25 Harold Vorster, 26 Gerdus van der Walt, 27 Cameron Rooi.

Lions (vs Leopards) – 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Luan Jacobs, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Warwick Tecklenberg, 6 Stephan De Wit, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Schalk van Heerden, 3 Julian Redelinghuys (c), 2 Malcom Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Clinton Theron, 18 Dylan Smith, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 JP du Preez, 21 Cyle Brink, 22 Fabian Booysen, 23 Ricky Schroeder, 24 Kobus de Kock, 25 Alwyn Hollenbach, 26 Jacques Nel, 27 Damian Engledou.

Pre-season teams (Week 2)

Pre-season fixtures

Photo: Gallo Images