Lions will take on the Sharks this evening on home ground in their Super Rugby warm-up match.
The match will be played at Ellis Park on Friday February 7.
The kick-off time is at 19:00.
Head coach of the Lions, Johan Ackermann, has announced a young side to play against a substantial side from the Sharks.
He has made a handful of changes and has given the captaincy to Alwyn Hollenbach. Last week the Lions beat the Southern Kings 12-19 in Port Elizabeth.
The side will make its Super Rugby comeback next weekend, February 15 against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Ackermann believes that the match will be the ideal opportunity to mix youth and experience, and will act as a learning curve for those whot have not yet come into contact with a side as experienced as The Sharks’.
“Of course it is important for us to avoid further injuries so we have decided to rest some of our players,” said Ackermann.
“However, I also believe Friday’s game will give some of our young players an opportunity to express themselves and gain some valuable experience. It will be a chance for them to put their hands up for the future.”
In the forwards, Jacques van Rooyen (loosehead), Warwick Tecklenburg (flank) and Willie Britz (eighthman) move up from the bench into the starting XV. Bees Roux, Lourens Erasmus, Martin Muller and Ruaan Lerm have also been drafted in after solid performances during their Vodacom Cup warm-up game against the Blue Bulls in Polokwane last Saturday.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Willie du Plessis moves into the starting line-up at flyhalf as Faf de Klerk comes in at scrumhalf. Alwyn Hollenbach and Stokkies Hanekom have been brought in in the midfield, while Deon van Rensburg will start at right wing. Coenie van Wyk comes in at fullback after Andries Coetzee suffered a knee injury during the game against the Southern Kings.
Lions team:
15. Coenie van Wyk
14. Deon van Rensburg
13. Stokkies Hanekom
12. Alwyn Hollenbach (c)
11. Chrysander Botha
10. Wilie du Plessis
9. Faf de Klerk
8. Willie Britz
7. Ruaan Lerm
6. Warwick Tecklenburg
5. Martin Muller
4. Lourens Erasmus
3. Bees Roux
2. Willie Wepener
1. Jacques van Rooyen
16. Malcolm Marx
17. Charles Marais
18. Corne Fourie
19. Stephan Vermeulen
20. Hugo Kloppers
21. MB Lusaseni
22. Stephan de Witt
23. Ross Cronje
24. JW Jonker
25. Ruan Combrinck
26. Deon Helberg
