Ackermann's Lions bolters
Lions coach Johan Ackermann produced a couple of bolters when he named his team to take on the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Apart from a few injury-enforced changes, Ackermann also opted to 'rotate' his squad ahead of the trip to Cape Town and a clash with the bottom-placed Stormers.
The biggest change is at scrumhalf, where Ross Cronje will start ahead of an in-form Francois de Klerk in the No.9 jersey.
The knee injury of Andries Coetzee means Chrysander Botha will start at fullback.
Anthony Volmink makes his first Super Rugby start of the year at left wing, in place of Deon van Rensburg – who is being troubled by a knee injury.
Courtnall Skosan moves from the left wing to the right wing in a positional switch.
In the forwards Robbie Coetzee will start at hooker in place of the injured Willie Wepener (hamstring). Malcolm Marx comes onto the bench to provide cover at hooker.
Jaco Kriel returns to the starting line-up at flank, with Derick Minnie moving to No.7 and Willie Britz dropping down to the replacement bench.
The final change is on the bench, where Jacobus Jonker replaces the injured Alwyn Hollenbach – who underwent surgery to repair a cut to his mouth.
Lions: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Francois de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Jacobus Jonker.
Date: Saturday, April 19
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
