JOHANNESBURG – Injuries have hit the Lions hard in the last few weeks, but coach Johan Ackermann has still been able to pick a formidable side for Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Captain Warren Whiteley will captain a Lions side featuring seven Springboks for the 50th time, while props Sti Sithole and Hencus van Wyk are in line to make their Lions debuts from the bench.
Already without Howard Mnisi, Julian Redelinghuys and Ruan Combrinck, the Lions now also have to make do without utility back Jaco van der Walt, centre Lionel Mapoe and props Dylan Smith and Johannes Jonker.
Van der Walt has a dislocated foot and he will be out of action for eight weeks, while Mapoe has a hairline fracture in one of the bones in his hand and will see a specialist on Friday.
Prop Smith, who has only recently returned from a shoulder problem, will undergo a further operation on his shoulder soon and he’ll be out of action for four months. Jonker, on the other hand, picked up concussion against the Reds and will be evaluated on a daily basis.
Despite his side coming up against the Kings, Ackermann has opted for a strong team, including last week’s debutant wing Madosh Tambwe and four-try hero Courtnall Skosan.
Live-wire hooker Akker van der Merwe comes onto the bench, as does scrumhalf Dillon Smit.
The match on Saturday kicks off at 3pm.
Lions:
Andries Coetzee, Madosh Tambwe, Harold Vorster, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley, Ruan Ackermann, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Sti Sitole, Hencus van Wyk, Lourens Erasmus, Kwagga Smith, Dillon Smit, Jacques Nel, Sylvian Mahuza