Shark attack awaits the Lions
Shark attack awaits the Lions in Durban over the weekend.
“The Sharks are a dynamic and physical side and they are definitely the favourite team to beat in this competition,” said Head Coach Johan Ackermann ahead of their Super 15 match this weekend.
The Lions will play Cell C Sharks on Saturday March 8 at Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium.
The kick-off time is 19:10.
“We have learned a lot when we played the Bulls over the weekend in the wet condition and the condition will be more or less the same on Saturday,” said Ackerman “They are a very direct team and have the entire Springbok front row, so we don’t want to make the same mistakes as against the Bulls, playing in our own half.”
Ackermann named his 23-man side to face the Cell C Sharks on Saturday evening.
In the forwards, Ackermann has opted largely for consistency, making just one change in the front row. Willie Wepener comes into the starting line-up in the hooker berth, as Robbie Coetzee shifts to the bench to provide cover.
“I had to make quite a lot of changes in the back row and opt not to make changes in the front row except for rotating Willie Wepener and Robbie Coetzee.”
In the backline the centre combination had to be changed for the fourth time due to injuries as well as the fact that Elton Jantjies will be making his return to the side.
Jantjies recovered fully from his shoulder injury. As a result, a backline reshuffle sees Marnitz Boshoff shifted to fullback as Chrysander Botha starts at left wing and Ruan Combrinck moves across to right wing. Deon van Rensburg will start at outside centre.
On the bench, Corne Fourie has earned selection and will look to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut on Saturday.
The team is:
15. Marnitz Boshoff
14. Ruan Combrinck
13. Deon van Rensburg
12. Stefan Watermeyer
11. Chrysander Botha
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Faf de Klerk
8. Warren Whiteley (c)
7. Warwick Tecklenburg
6. Jaco Kriel
5. Franco van der Merwe
4. Franco Mostert
3. Julian Redelinghuys
2. Willie Wepener
1. Schalk van der Merwe
16. Robbie Coetzee
17. Corne Fourie
18. Ruan Dreyer
19. MB Lusaseni
20. Willie Britz
21. Ross Cronje
22. JW Jonker
23. Coenie van Wyk
