Bok Maku in surprise comeback
Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann had the rare delight of recalling two of his foremost Springboks for the Currie Cup crunch match with Western Province.
The availability of the two internationals – hooker Bandise Maku and flyhalf Elton Jantjies – comes ahead of Saturday's Round Three encounter in Johannesburg.
Their return could not have come at a more opportune time, with injuries ruling out hooker Callie Visagie and centre Waylon Murray.
Maku returns at hooker to make his first appearance in a competition match this year, after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in a pre-season match back in January.
He replaces Visagie, who has started in virtually every one of the Lions and Golden Lions’ matches this since making his debut in the first Super Rugby match on February 8. Former Maties captain Visagie damaged his ribs in the loss to the Sharks last week.
In the backline Ackermann brought in Jantjies at flyhalf in the place of in-form Butch James, who is moved to centre in place of the injured Waylon Murray.
The latter again injured the knee that has been troubling him since the end of last season.
Jantjies has been released for provincial duty by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, when he trimmed his squad to 26 for the Test in Argentina this weekend.
These are the only two changes to the starting XV that featured against the Sharks in Durban.
On the bench there is the interesting inclusion of new recruit Deon Helberg, former Sevens Springbok and Tukkies and Blue Bulls wing. He replaces Guy Cronje, as the inclusion of Jantjies and James provides cover at flyhalf.
In another change to the bench Martin Bezuidenhout returns as hooker in place of Francois du Toit.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 JR Esterhuizen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Ruan Combrinck.
Date: Saturday, August 25
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Johan Greeff
