Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made two rotational changes to his pack for Saturday’s clash with the Sharks at Ellis Park, with two further switches amongst the starting backline.
Former Sharks age-group prop Julian Redelinghuys comes in for Ruan Dreyer at tighthead this week; Dreyer came under huge pressure and gave away numerous penalties last time these sides met, so the hope is that Redelinghuys will do better against his erstwhile teammates. The other up-front change sees tearaway flanker Jaco Kriel start on the open side ahead of Derrick Miennie.
Faf de Klerk comes in for Ross Cronje at scrumhalf, with uncapped Lohan Jacobs on the bench. The final change sees another former Shark, winger Mark Richards, make his debut at left wing.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Mark Richards, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Lohan Jacobs, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Howard Mnisi.
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Combrinck and Mnisi also ex-sharks if I’m not mistaken? So how many ex-sharks in this Lions team? Looks more like a family reunion
I’ve completely forgotten about Richards. When did he move over to the Lions again?
@vanmartin (Comment 2) : signed for them last year after 2-3 years withe the Blitzbokke
Any idea what team the sharks will be fielding against the Lions?
@coolfusion (Comment 4) : A very motivated team
@coolfusion (Comment 1) :
Looking at the amount of players the Lions have in the u/20 world cup squad its no surprise that the lions shop around for players .
besides … its not like you were using those players in the first place 😈
and you guys can claim Mapoe as well … sorta 😛
@Zibbie (Comment 7) : Well the Kings can claim him more than we can. And I’m not complaining about the ex sharks players. Players will move around and besides we got John Smit Willem Alberts and Marcell Coetzee from you side of the fence so thank you very much.
@The hound (Comment 5) : I should F*king hope so. Or maybe our hooker will have fall back and fetch the ball again this week since our other players don’t seem to care for the extra work.
@coolfusion (Comment 8) : Mate Marcell Coetzee is a Port Natal boy.
@coolfusion (Comment 9) : Now is the time to be a fan and stand behind the team.
Anyone can be a fan when we are winning,but it takes a real fan to stand up for our team this week
@coolfusion (Comment 8) : And John Smit would have been a Bull if he stayed put.
@The hound (Comment 10) : But born in Potchefstroom so thanks to the transvaal for breeding him.
@Bokhoring (Comment 12) : but also born in transvaal, northern transvaal so I concede…
Ok, ok point is this will be one big family reunion fro ex transvalers and ex sharks with a couple of stray cats (cheetahs) thrown in for good measure.
Lions by 30 😈 😈
@The hound (Comment 11) : ag I know I moan a lot but I will never really give up on my boys. Just hacks me off that some of our players have so little regard for the team and its future that they put us in these positions. Frans’ tackle (overzealous)one can sort of understand or live with, but deliberately put your team in such a spot even when we have lots going wrong for us, that just pisses me off to no end. Both Bismarck and Deysel’s offences and the lackluster that we showed last week. Really? Isn’t this the time to play twice as hard, not twice as awful I can support and scream as much as I want but at the end of the day are the guys in the team willing to step up? Are they?
@[email protected] (Comment 16) : sadly I can only say the margin won’t be that big. But I cannot with great confidence say that you are wrong in predicting the win.
@The hound (Comment 11) : Your optimism is contagious… Keep it up !
@SharksRTB (Comment 19) : So far caught two fish
@[email protected] (Comment 16) :
akghhhhaaaahhhkkk
@[email protected] (Comment 16) : @Zibbie (Comment 21) : In case you’re wondering that’s the sound a Lions supporter makes who has just realised that his team has been jinxed on a Sharks website. Rob publicly backing the Lions in his preview thread is the final kiss of death
@coolfusion (Comment 17) : if only the sharks players showed half the gees/passion and dedication the fans do
@vanmartin (Comment 22) : @Zibbie (Comment 21) : @[email protected] (Comment 16) :
28.
Lions will go for bonus point and convert everything
😎
@The hound (Comment 11) : In that case: Lions by 20! (I’ve just done my bit!)
@vanmartin (Comment 22) : Now we just need Morne to back the Lions and it should be an easy win for the Sharks.
It will be interesting to see Mark Richards play…
Lions to take this one by 38…
@MysticShark (Comment 26) : That’s the spirit! However, Morne recently mentioned on twitter that he’s still backing the Sharks as SA conference winners (he tweeted this after the Crusaders game) so I’m officially worried
@vanmartin (Comment 29) : Oh dear!
@vanmartin (Comment 29) : On a serious note, it will take a monumental effort from the men to turn it around and to remain in the hunt. I really hope that it starts this Weekend…
@pastorshark (Comment 31) : My dad always says “hope is your safety net for the times that your faith runs low”. Hope is a seriously powerful thing as you well know Pastor (and that’s my hope too by the way).