Warren Whiteley, who was a late injury withdrawal ahead of the Lions’ last match against the Stormers, returns to captain the side against the Chiefs this weekend, as one of six changes to the starting team.
Willie Britz moves benchwards to accommodate Whiteley at number 8, with Warwick Tecklenberg dropping out of the squad. Martin Muller also returns at lock, displacing Luvo Lusaseni to the bench who takes over from Pumas lock Rudi Matthee.
At the back, coach Johan Ackermann has made further changes. Courtnall Skosaan switches wings, making space for Deon van Rensburg on the right (with Anthony Volminck dropping out). Faf de Klerk returns for Ross Cronje at scrumhalf after playing off the bench in Cape Town, while a surprise move sees Elton Jantjies start at flyhalf, with Marnitz Boshoff taking a seat on the bench.
Hooker Armand van der Merwe and loosehead Jacques van Rooyen make their way onto the bench, replacing Malcolm Marx and Corne Fourie respectively.
Lions: 15. Chrysander Botha, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Martin Muller, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni , 20. Willie Britz, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Marnitz Boshoff, 23. JW Jonker
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Sorry, but I fail to see the logic behind dropping your in-form flyhalf to the bench in a game against a team like the Chiefs. If you MUST have Elton there, than rather shift Chrysander to the bench and have Boshoff at 15. Ackers? What is going on? 😯
@Another Nick (Comment 1) : Rest a player against a team you are very unlikely to beat maybe?
Pragmatism.
I suspect a similiar headline for us.
@Seth101 (Comment 2) : Makes sense.. would rather rest players against “weaker” teams, but hey, if you ARE the weaker team, might as well rotate as well.
@Seth101 (Comment 2) : @uShaka (Comment 3) : Marnitz probably needs a break and I too suspect they are targeting certain matches as likely wins and will use Marnitz in those. Probably won’t do much for Elton’s confidence though which is a shame.
Yes Yes Yes, now the Stormers have a even better chance to beat them. Go Stormers Go!!!!!!!!! 😈
Sorry to say, but I think Marnitz has been found out and is regressing at a rapid rate with each game.
Elton is a player with proven pedigree. Can’t really believe that choosing him is seen as weakening the team.
@JD (Comment 7) : what are you talking about? The Lions are playing the Chiefs
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Elton is very much a confidence player though (but which pivot isn’t?) and his confidence hasn’t been where it should for a while now. No doubt he’ll improve if backed by the coach but I have to wonder whether starting him against the Chiefs is the best thing for him. He should probably have been given more time off the bench in previous games.
@vanmartin (Comment 10) : I reckon they’ve got to get him back in the saddle somehow.
Ackies doesn’t really intend to beat the Chiefs, I’m sure, so he’s probably told Elton and the rest to just go and have a relaxed crack at them and see what happens.
Breaking news on SuperRugby
18 teams, 4 conferences, 6 SA teams. Less games to be played individually.
Presser coming up on Monday.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 12) : I’ll wait for the presser before getting excited
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 12) : Seems to still be 15 games per team.
Hopefully these brain dead local derbies will be reduced, but from what I can tell, it will be the games vs. anzac that will be reduced. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 13) : I hope there is something to be excited about.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) : 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Agreed and there’s a lesson here for all teams – give your subs more game time!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 12) : 2 SA conferences I see. That could reduce the amount of local derbies. Looking forward to the presser.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : ag sorry been a very looong 3 day week.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 12) : wow now SA get another team to fight for the wooden spoon, thanx SANZAR!!!!