Lions looking for the edge
The Lions have made a few changes as they go into their much anticipated clash with the Southern Kings in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The side from Johannesburg are coming off a a loss in what was a higly entertaining game against the Bulls at the Orlando Stadium last weekend.
Coach Johan Ackerman has named an unchanged tight-five from last weekend's outing against the Bulls but in the back-row and amonst the backs there have been a number of poistional changes as well as replacements.
The halfback pairing of Michael Bondesio and Marnitz Boschoff has been exchanged for two Cronje's, Ross and Lionel, as Boschoff shifts to the back where he played against the Cheetahs.
Andries Coetzee makes the move out onto the wing in place of Deon Helberg who sits on the bench.
Ackermann has retained his exciting centre combination of Alwyn Hollenbach and Stokkies Hannekom for the clash at Ellis Park, and will be hoping that they can cause as much distruption in the midfield as they did last weekend.
Onto the bench comes Whestley Moolman as back-up to Ross Cronje following the injury to Bondesio in the match against the Bulls.
With the injury to No.8 Willie Britz, Ackermann has brought in former Varsity Shield player Gavin Annandale to cover the second-row with Warwick Tecklenberg once again providing loose-forward cover.
These two injuries could provide Ackermann with his first real test as he tries out different combinations to see the extent of the depth he has available in the squad.
The Lions: 15, Marnitz Boschoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 JJ Breet, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Francois Du Toit, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Warwick Tecklenberg, 20 Whestley Moolman, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Dylan de Fountain
Date: Saturday, February 9
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 14.15 (12.15 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
By Nick Tatham
