Lions coach Johan Ackermann has been forced to make one change to his team that comprehensively beat the Bulls in their opening game.
The Lions take on the Kings at Ellis Park on Saturday and will have to do so without the services of the star flyhalf, Marnitz Boshoff, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Ackermann has decided to give young Jaco van der Walt an opportunity to show what he can do.
Ackermann has made two more changes on the bench where Guy Cronje and Albertus ‘Kwagga’ Smith have been drafted in . Smith will get his Absa Currie Cup debut should he get a run out on Saturday.
The Lions will hope to take some of the momentum and confidence from the big win against the Bulls into their match on the weekend.
15. Andries Coetzee
14. Lionel Mapoe
13. Stokkies Hanekom
12. Harold Vorster
11. Ruan Combrinck
10. Jaco van der Walt
9. Ross Cronje
8. Warren Whiteley (c)
7. Derick Minnie
6. Jaco Kriel
5. Franco Mostert
4. MB Lusaseni
3. Ruan Dreyer
2. Robbie Coetzee
1. Schalk van der Merwe
16. Armand van der Merwe
17. Jacques van Rooyen
18. Willie Britz
19. Warwick Tecklenburg
20. Guy Cronje
21. Kwagga Smith
22. Howard Mni

Kwagga Smith is a funny choice for a backline replacement, he’s a flank and he did well for the Blitsbokke at the Commonwealth games. Played centre at school maybe?
@Baylion (Comment 1) : maybe just going for a 5-2 split with two loosies on the bench?
Go Lions!!!!!!
We need a strong start and our forwards needs to lay a good foundation for the young vd Walt. If the Kings dominate us up front and vd Walt is forced to play on the backfoot it will be a long day for the Lions
@Baylion(comment1):was also a bit shocked to see him with the 22 jersey, who covers F/H and F/B and No.12?
@Chippa (Comment 5) : Guy and Howard.
@Chippa (Comment 5) : Ruan Combrinck can cover 15, Guy covers 9 and 10 and Mnisi 12/13
@JD(comment6)&Baylion(comment7),then its a 5/2 split,it seems the Lions will take them on the loose game they like and run their forwards to the ground.
@Chippa (Comment 8) : seems as if that’s the plan. Hope it works for them.
@Chippa (Comment 8) : Both Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel can also cover the midfield positions
🙂