Lions ready for Shark Tank challenge
The Lions face the Sharks in a Currie Cup Round 12 clash at Kings Park on Friday.
There are three changes from the side that beat the Blue Bulls in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.
Rhyno Herbst gets a start ahead of veteran Andries Ferreira and will partner Marvin Orie at lock.
Fabian Booysen moves into the starting XV at No.8, ahead of Japan-bound Ryan Kankowski.
The final changes sees Aphiwe Dyantyi in on the left win in place of Anthony Volmink – who faces a late fitness test.
If Volmink does not recover, Nicolaas Hanekom will provide cover on the bench.
Lions coach Swys de Bruin pinned the favourites tag to the Sharks.
"They don't have a vast number of Springboks or Japan based players out and will be playing at home in conditions they know well," De Bruin said.
"I would've thought that the likes of Thomas du Toit and Curwin Bosch would also have been drafted into the Springbok set-up – with sterling performances this season.
"We are looking forward to a tough encounter."
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Marco Janse van Vuren, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen (captain).
Replacements: 16 Sithembiso Sithole, 17 Pieter Jansen, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Bradley Thain, 22 Anthony Volmink/Nicolaas Hanekom.
Date: Friday, September 29
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19.15 (17.15 GMT)
Referee: TBC
