Lions tweak team for big derby

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made four changes to his side to face the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Among the forwards, Julian Redelinghuys will start at tighthead prop, while Jaco Kriel also returns to the starting XV at openside flank.

Ackermann has made two further changes, both to the backline, as Faf de Klerk gets a starting berth at scrumhalf, while former Sharks player Mark Richards will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut on the left wing.

Scrumhalf Lohan Jacobs is also in line to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut from the replacements bench.

The Lions come into the match on the back of four wins in their last five matches, knowing a victory will lift them above the Sharks in the overall standings.

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Mark Richards, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Lohan Jacobs, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Howard Mnisi.

Super Rugby teams (Round 9)

Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images