The Loss of centre Waylon Murray to a knee injury, which will keep the former Sharks man out of rugby for the rest of the season, has forced Lions coach John Mitchel to reshuffle his winning team for this weekend’s match against the Cheetahs.
Another former (or is that almost) Sharks player in winger Lionel Mapoe moves into midfield to replace Murray in the number 13 jersey, where he will partner Alwyn Hollenbach in something of a makeshift midfield. Michael Killian moves out of the last line of defence to take over from Mapoe at wing, with the fit-again Jaco Taute reclaiming the number 15 jersey he wore earlier in the season after featuring off the bench last week.
Jannie Boshoff comes in on the bench as the squad replacement for Murray.
The starting pack is unchanged and will once again be led by number 8 Josh Strauss, while Joe Snyman (a former Shark) replaces Michael Rhodes (a former Shark) amongst the forward reserves.
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 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
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jannie Boshoff
i think a generally good team … Lions most defiantly in with a shout .. Cheetahs lots of injuries . interesting front row tussle
Pity, I feel that Waylon might be getting a little to injury prone. It is a nasty habit that can plaque a player and prevent him from playing to his full potential. O well, hope you get well soon.
PS: Let’s put the former (province) part behind our sharks players aswell… or wait maybe not.
Mapoe, thankfully, never sullied a Sharks jersey in a game. This is good.
@Salmonoid (Comment 3) : agree
If I remember correctly, Waylon had a previous knee injury. Any idee if it’s the same knee?
@Nita: great question!
I wish saying get well soon would help….maybe it will, so get well soon Waylon.
shame, he’s really been struggling with injuries. it messes up his career.
Hope Sharks signs Adi Jacobs again, otherwise a move to Lions might be on the cards…
@Charlie (Comment 9) : really? Do the Lions need him?
@robdylan (Comment 10) : They signs everyone nowadays who’s availeable…
Talking of injuries and knees, any updates on Steve Meyer and his knee?
@Charlie: no,please don’t go! (And no I’m signing that 90s hit song lol).
Good team but I hope Mapoe’s defense holds up at 13 GO LIONS
@bergshark (Comment 13) : Then get Strooilie to move his poephol…
mapoe is not a 13, he played there for the cheetahs and didn’t go well.
@Megatron (Comment 16) : Agree, was not a good move, think it was against the Sharks, Adi Jacobs surely made the best out of the situation…