Mapoe to lead Lions

The Golden Lions have made two late changes to their match-day squad, with Lionel Mapoe taking over the captaincy.

Coach Johan Ackermann has seen his preparations for the trip to Port Elizabeth disrupted following Warren Whiteley's call-up to the national squad. Mapoe will take over the captaincy duties while Willie Britz will slot in at the back of the scrum.

Elsewhere, Robbie Coetzee has been forced to withdraw after suffering a neck spasm, with Willie Wepener taking his place on the bench.

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

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix