Cronje twins double up for Lions
The Cronje twins, Guy and Ross, will start their first game together for the Lions when the men from Johannesburg host the Cheetahs in a pre-season fixture at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Lions head coach Johan Ackermann made nine changes to the team that beat Russia 51-13 last week – the most significant of those the Cronje twins starting at flyhalf (Guy) and scrumhalf (Ross).
In other backline changes Marnitz Boshoff starts at fullback, Ruhan Nel on the right wing and Alwyn Hollenbach at inside centre.
Losing out this week are fullback Andries Coetzee, wing Deon Helberg, centre Harold Vorster, flyhalf Lionel Cronje and scrumhalf Michael Bondesio.
Up front Jaco Kriel starts on the flank, Hugo Kloppers and Gavin Annandale are the locks, while Francois du Toit starts at hooker.
Warwick Tecklenburg, Franco Mostert and Hendrik Roodt are rested, while Stormers-bound Martin Bezuidenhout does not feature at all.
Lions: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Guy Cronje, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Gavin Annandale, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 JJ Breet, 19 Claude Tshidibi, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Andries Coetzee.
Date: Saturday, January 26
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
