Lions mix experience, youth for Currie Cup opener

Ross Cronjé will captain the Golden Lions in their first Currie Cup game of the season against Griquas at Ellis Park on Friday.

There are four Springboks – Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan, Cronjé and Marvin Orie – in new coach Ivan van Rooyen’s starting lineup.

Shaun Reynolds will play flyhalf, while Junior Bok Manni Rass gets the nod at inside centre. The back row consists of Hacjivah Dayimani, Len Massyn and James Venter.

Backs Wandisile Simelane and Tyrone Green have been named on the bench.

Golden Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Jan-Louis la Grange, 12 Manni Rass, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Corné Fourie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 JP Steenkamp, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Tyrone Green, 22 Wandisile Simelane.

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Golden Lions squad – Andries Coetzee, Anthony Volminck, Ashlon Davids, Bheki Shongwe, Corné Fourie, Courtnall Skosan, Danie Mienie, Dillon Smit, Driaan Bester, Hacjivah Dayimani, Howard Mnisi, Jacobie Adriaanse, James Venter, Johannes Jonker, Len Massyn, Madosh Tambwe, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Pieter Jansen, Pikkie de Villiers, Reinhard Nothnagel , Rhyno Herbst, Selom Gavor, Shaun Reynolds, Siya Masuku, Siya Nzuzo,Stephen Bashera,Sti Sithole, Sylvian Mahuza, Wandisile Simelane, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Marvin Orie, Ross Cronjé.