Ackermann axes Jantjies again
Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann dropped Springbok Elton Jantjies to the bench, the second time this season.
Ackermann made several changes to his side ahead of their Round Three Currie Cup encounter with the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Marnitz Boshoff, who played 24 games for the Bulls before moving to Griquas last year, will start at flyhalf – with Chrysander Botha promoted from the bench to fill the spot vacated by Boshoff's move from fullback to flyhalf.
Lock Franco van der Merwe has returned from Springbok duty and will start this weekend.
Veteran Willie Wepener has also been included in the starting team after recently joining the Lions from the Bulls.
"We've lost a lot of players – like Michael Bondesio, Alwyn Hollenbach and Ruan Combrinck – who were heavily involved in the Currie Cup last year," Ackermann said.
"So it is great to have those quality guys – especially with the situation we are in, where we have to win."
Golden Lions: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Robert De Bruyn, 12 Dylan Des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Guy Cronje, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie (captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Jacques Van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Lambert Groenewald, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Tiaan Meyer, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Lionel Cronje.
Date: Saturday, August 24
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Jaco Van Heerden, Cobus Wessels
