Golden Lions coach John Mitchell has called up Burton Francis as flyhalf in place of the province’s two Springbok No.10s, Butch James and Elton Jantjies, for the Lions’ first Currie Cup match of the season.
Rugby365.com reports that the Lions will host the Pumas in Johannesburg on Friday evening, and Mitchell said his side would be looking to build on the momentum from the Super Rugby competition.
Consequently, the Lions mentor kept team changes – from their Super Rugby finale against the Sharks in June – to a minimum.
One of those changes, however, will see Francis start at No.10, with James and Jantjies away on Springbok duty.
In other changes, Dylan Des Fountain shifts from centre to wing in place of the injured Deon van Rensburg, whilst Alwyn Hollenbach fills the midfield gap at No.13. Hollenbach will be hoping to cement his place in the side before Springbok Waylon Murray recovers from injury in the next couple of weeks.
Lionel Mapoe, who sustained serious facial injuries on the Lions’ tour to Australasia, is back on the left wing.
The Lions have selected their most effective forwards and will be missing only stalwart JC Janse van Rensburg, who has started at loosehead prop in every match the team from Jo’burg has played this year.
Former Maties star Jacobie Adriaanse will get a start at tighthead in place of Pat Cilliers, who moves to loosehead in the absence of Van Rensburg.
Van Rensburg’s absence gives Caylib Oosthuizen a chance on the bench after a good 2011 Varsity Cup campaign for the University of Johannesburg.
Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan Des Fountain, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Doppies La Grange (captain), 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pat Cilliers.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Dries van Schalkwyk, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Hein Cronje, 22 Michael Killian.
Date: Friday, July 15
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende, Johan Greeff
TMO: JC Fortuin Jerome
Tweet
Go Pumas!! 😈
Go Lions I know you will beat them
@wpw (Comment 1) : You banker!
@wpw (Comment 1) :
@Greg (Comment 3) :
Sorry W and B keys swopped around again! 😆 😆 😆
Ag shurrup Greg! 😈
dont worry greg !!!! i got your back heheh 😛
Much as we like to point out the final CC match last year where the Mighty Pumas overpowered the toothless Lions in JHB, I get the feeling we`re dealing with an altogether different Lions side here.
Yes Burton might be shaky and Mapoe still doesn`t defend but what other weakness have they got really?
Francis kicked well in the games he played so maybe he might just see this as the opportunity he was waiting for as for Mapoe he has not realy impressed since he moved from the Cheethas had a couple of good runs but he was avarage at best this season. I’m just glad JC(penenty machine)Van Rensburg is not playing
@Zibbie (Comment 6) : Yeah, we’ll invite him to the park at the end of october to see the Currie Cup! 😆
@Original Pierre (Comment 7) : That loss cost me LMS last year 👿
Talking about LMS, I see we have a few deaths allready 🙄 😈