Boshoff axed, as Lions ring changes
Springbok Marnitz Boshoff has paid the price for his poor start to the Super Rugby season, with coach Johan Ackermann axing the flyhalf from the matchday squad.
Ackermann on Thursday named a team that shows nine changes, to take on the Stormers at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The most notable changes in the backline are at halfback – where the out-of-sorts duo of Boshoff and Ross Cronje make way for Elton Jantjies (at No.10) and Francois de Klerk (No.9).
Jaco van der Walt has been called up to the replacement bench to cover the flyhalf position, with Boshoff dropping straight out and Cronje just dropping down to the bench.
Van der Walt will make his Super Rugby debut should he run on.
Courtnall Skosan and Howard Mnisi have also been axed – with Sampie Mastriet set to play his first Super Rugby game for the Lions after being named on the left wing in place of Skosan, while Harold Vorster will also celebrate his first Super Rugby start at centre in place of Mnisi.
In the forwards the seasoned front row of Schalk van der Merwe, Robbie Coetzee and Julian Redelinghuys all return to the starting XV – after missing the first few rounds for various reasons, including off-season injuries.
Jaco Kriel returns from his minor groin injury at flank.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Howard Mnisi.
Date: Saturday, February 28
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
