Bok Jantjies misses the cut
Springbok Elton Jantjies failed to make the cut when Lions coach Johan Ackermann named his team to face the Reds at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Ackermann opted for consistency, making just one change to his starting XV for the encounter.
In the forwards veteran hooker Willie Wepener will start in place of the injured Robbie Coetzee.
As expected Mark Pretorius is promoted from the Vodacom Cup side to provide cover at hooker, after young up-and-coming Malcolm Marx – who was next in line – was ruled out with a fractured right hand.
Pretorius was the Lions' Under-21 captain last year and played off the bench, behind Marx, for the Vodacom Cup team last week.
Another promising junior figure, second row Stephan de Wit, will also look to earn his first Super Rugby cap, starting from the bench.
This after Warwick Tecklenburg failed a concussion test this week.
Additionally, utility back Lionel Mapoe has recovered from his hamstring strain and will also provide cover on the bench.
It resulted in Jantjies dropping down to the Vodacom Cup team, where the Golden Lions will play the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Ackermann resisted the temptation to rush back players like Andries Coetzee, Alwyn Hollenbach and Michael Bondesio – who returned from injury this week.
Hollenbach will start for the Vodacom Cup team in the midfield against the Blue Bulls, while Bondesio and Coetzee will play off the bench at Loftus.
Lions: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Willie Britz, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Mark Pretorius, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Stephan de Wit, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Ruan Combrinck.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT, 01.05, Sunday, March 23, AEST)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
