Auto and General Lions coach Dick Muir has made no less than eight changes to his squad to face the Brumbies in their Vodacom Super 14 match in Canberra on Friday.
As expected Muir chose to rotate his outfit against the Brumbies, who pose a very different challenge to that of the Chiefs and Hurricanes, whom the Lions lost to in the last two weeks of the competition.
“We have chosen to rotate the squad a bit, to get some fresh legs in,” Muir told Supersport.com. “We have a number of guys who have played the first three games and we decided to give some of the other players a go.”
While he would not have started, kingpin Carlos Spencer faces a late fitness test to decide if he plays off the bench or not. Spencer, who is struggling with a pectoral muscle strain, will be replaced on the bench by teenager Wandile Mjekevu if he isn’t fit.
Brenden Nel reports that Muir has effectively changed his back three and front row, hoping it will prove a good counter to the Brumbies phase play game plan.
Michael Killian, who has shone coming off the bench, gets a start in the place of Earl Rose, while Dusty Noble gets his first start of the season in the place of Mjekevu.
With Deon van Rensburg on his way back to South Africa, Walter Venter slots in as Doppies la Grange’s midfield partner.
Former Bull Burton Francis gets his first start in the flyhalf jersey, while Willem Stoltz returns after a one-week suspension for foul play. Stoltz replaces Franco van der Merwe, who has started in all the Lions games previously.
Up front, hooker Charles Emslie replaces Hannes Franklin while JC Janse van Rensburg takes the place of Heinke van der Merwe.
Rose, Franklin and both Van der Merwe’s are on the bench for this weekend’s match.
Lions: Michael Killian, Tonderai Chavanga, Walter Venter, Doppies la Grange, Dusty Noble, Burton Francis, JP Joubert, Todd Clever, Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt.), Willem Stoltz, George Earl, Kevin Buys, Charles Emslie, JC Janse van Rensburg.
Reserves: Hannes Franklin, Heinke van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Jacques Lombaard/Robert Kruger, Jacques Coetzee, Carlos Spencer/Wandile Mjekevu, Earl Rose.
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Hy vattie kakie!!!!!!!!!
I think they will get absolutely pasted ! 😥
Finally someone listened and put Killian in the starting 15…may be I should be a coach 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : I’m looking to load my FL Team with Brumbies this week as i attempt to make a run at the exclusive club that is the ‘Top 5’ 😆
@Nita (Comment 3) : He has looked good everytime he has come on….big chance for him against some quality opposition ! Tough place to win though ! 🙁
Walter Venter…
Last year he missed the final Super14 Squad because he was not versatile enough, he could apparently only play inside center…?
@Ossa (Comment 6) : funny, that irony struck me as well.
Really like Walter. Wish he were a Shark (yes, Fish, I know… blame Straeuli!)
Michael Killian has been good but he reminds me of Brent Russell in that he might be too small for Super rugby!!
@wpw (Comment 8) : Good Call….but Christian Cullen wasn’t huge and he was quite handy at Super Rugby level. 😉
@Nita (Comment 3) : go for it Nita aaahhh 🙂
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 4) : well if you look at mine at ss fl there is about no sharks and that is hurting at the moment when the points have to count.
@wpw (Comment 8) : brent was my guy until f steyn came along small guys can also play rugby size don’t count 😳 its what you do when you play rugby i think 🙂 ➡
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 5) :