Elton Jantjies, after a break from rugby of six weeks in which he did not play a single minute, is back in the number ten jumper for the Lions to face the Blue Bulls. Jantjies replaces Burton Francis, who reverts back to the bench for this game.
The other half of a halfback change is that of Michael Bondesio replacing Jano Vermaak, after the latter has decided to sign with the Bulls from next year. Rookie Rudy Paige will take Bondesio’s spot on the bench as Vermaak falls out of the match 22 altogether.
Lionel Mapoe returns from his knee injury to slot back into the backline, while Pat Cilliers misses out on the starting in favour JC Janse van Rensburg, as the pair swop starting and bench spots.
On the bench we see Warren Whiteley and Jaco Taute returning from injury and will most likely play a part in the latter half of the game.
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jaco Taute.
Awh shame the lions drop vermaak because he screwed them over:mrgreen:
atleast at WP sadie and J-J did not get dropped.
I seriously hope we thrash these cubs no wonder robert gumede ran away mrgreen: taute and a few more players will join vermaak soon.
Yes Muzi these Lions (management) are a circus act without the ring master
dumb move… Francis is the man on form.
Lions are gonna get creamed
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I agree, plus he’s in my FL team!
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
Elton hasnt played in so long.. He is going to get nailed!
Whiteley,rhodes,cilliers on the bench.wouldn’t mind getting rhodes back at the sharks.
Lions more settled than Bulls at the moment. Gonna be close. At least the Vermaak signing adds spice to the derby. 6 years at the Lions is actually good service in the modern era. Good luck to him.
@bergshark (Comment 6) :
Where exactly would he fit in, honestly?
We have more than enough talent to fill whatever void he may have left..
Wonder if the vermaak move to bulls will see kockott back in favour with lions management(read he is playing in france for few months-although I don’t know what rugby is being played in europe this time of the year??).
“Lions use their bok returnee”…. Nasty!lol
The Lions have to be the favourites going into this one.
@beet (Comment 11) : Hey Beet. Do you remember the pre-season game where Pumas played I think. What’s that flyhalve’s name that had such a good sidestep??
@Ben (Comment 12) : Not Elgar Watts maybe? He played pre-season for the Stormers tho. He has a good step. Was with the Pumas last year. He’s now with Boland. Him???
@beet (Comment 13) : No definitely not him.
You watched the game as well Beet. Not sure if he played for the Pumas or who. A youngish flyhalf. After the game you asked me what I thought of him.
@Ben (Comment 14) : Was it Boland in their new pink jerseys vs the Stormers back in Feb when the Boland no.10 Willie le Roux was quite impressive.
I just can’t remember a Pumas pre-season game.
How quick is that Pumas flyhalf Coenie van Wyk. Blitzvinnig!
@beet (Comment 16) : Yes I’m pretty sure it was Willie le Roux. Thanks. What happened to him. Any idea?
@Ben (Comment 17) : Sorry Ben. I have no idea what progress he’s made since that game
@Ben (Comment 17) : Ben we have a poster in the site called Paarlbok who knows everything Boland related.I’ll try and summon him.
@beet (Comment 18) : @Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 19) : Thanks
Good luck Lions I know you can win this
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 19) : It’s interskole this week which ends with the most well-attended SBR match in SA. Paarlbok’s son is playing hockey for KleinGim. Bottomline: good luck getting hold of him much less drawing his attention away from the events in Paarl.
@beet (Comment 22) : Hehehe good point
Difficult game to call this.
Any suggestion would be welcome and also please send full motivation.
@Pokkel (Comment 24) :
i picked the bulls .
given my resent track record on superbru ( 1/4 last weekend ) it would be well advised to pick the lions in this game
@Pokkel (Comment 24) : Lions to win by 4. Just because they are the Lions!
Go Lions