Emirates Lions start tour in Australasia
The local Johannesburg outfit will play against the Blues as the first opener of the tour.
In need of a desperate win Emirates Lions arrived in Auckland for their first match on tour.
The local Johannesburg outfit will play against the Blues as the first opener of the tour.
Emirates Lions will play the Blues at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Saturday March 7.
Head coach Johan Ackermann has opted for consistency, making just two changes to the starting lineup for this match.
In the forwards, Corne Fourie will make his first start at loosehead this season, while in the backline Ross Cronje will start at scrumhalf.
“He is playing very well and we thought that he brings consistency to the team,” said Ackermann.
The kick-off is at 08:35 South Africa time on Saturday. The match will be televised live via SuperSport 1 in South Africa.
The team is:
15. Andries Coetzee
14. Ruan Combrinck
13. Lionel Mapoe
12. Harold Vorster
11. Sampie Mastriet
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Ross Cronje
8. Warren Whiteley (c)
7. Warwick Tecklenburg
6. Jaco Kriel
5. Martin Muller
4. Franco Mostert
3. Julian Redelinghuys
2. Robbie Coetzee
1. Corne Fourie
16. Armand van der Merwe
17. Jacques van Rooyen
18. Ruan Dreyer
19. Robert Kruger
20. Derick Minnie
21. Faf de Klerk
22. Jaco van der Walt
23. Howard Mnisi