Emirates Lions start tour in Australasia

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