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Kwagga hunting with the Lions

Albertus Smith, or Kwagga as he is affectionately known, has been named in the starting line-up for the Lions who face Western Province at Ellis Park on Saturday.

 

Smith, a Sevens Springbok, starts at No.7 flank with Willie Britz taking up the No.8 spot while the No.6 position has Jaco Kriel and Warwick Tecklenburg bracketed as Kriel will need to pass a late medical test if he is to start.

 

There were fears that Kriel may have suffered a fractured leg in training, but scans have revealed that it is merely a muscle injury.

 

In the backline, Lionel Mapoe shifts to outside centre with Nicolaas Hanekom moving into the inside centre berth.

 

Courtnall Skosan has been recalled to the starting side at left wing.

 

Ricky Schroeder will start at scrumhalf in the place of injured Ross Cronje.

 

On the bench, Malcolm Marx will cover hooker and will look to make his Currie Cup debut should he get a run out.

 

Michael Bondesio has been called up to provide scrumhalf cover.

 

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe (Captain), 12 Nicolaas Hanekom, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ricky Schroeder, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel/Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg/Steph de Wit, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Howard Mnisi.

 

Date: Saturday, September 13

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Tahla Ntshakaza

TMO: Willie Vos

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