Bossie gets to tackle the Blues
Lions coach Johan Ackermann opted to start with Marnitz Boshoff as his flyhalf for the Super Rugby encounter with the Blues at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Springbok Elton Jantjies, who started in the No.10 jersey in the loss to the Sharks last week, has been relegated to the bench in a selection move that has been a hot topic for debate all week.
Jantjies, who made his first Super Rugby appearance after off-season shoulder surgery, struggled with the pace of the game in Durban and was replaced in the second half – when Boshoff moved from No.15 to No.10.
The Lions coach said this week that Jantjies needs to be given a proper run to regain his form, but felt he may also benefit from playing off the bench.
In the end he went with the latter of the two options, as Boshoff has been the team's form player all season – having scored 70 points in four matches.
Ackermann also dropped Ruan Combrinck to the replacements bench.
These are among a host of changes to the Lions team for their Round Five encounter with the Blues.
Other backline selections will see Courtnall Skosan, JW Jonker and Coenie van Wyk all earn places in the starting XV.
In the forward pack hooker Robbie Coetzee returns to the starting line-up and Willie Britz will start at flank.
As a result, both Willie Wepener and Warwick Tecklenburg will provide cover from the bench.
Lions: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Willie Britz, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Ruan Combrinck.
Date: Saturday, March 15
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT; 02.00, Sunday, March 16 NZ time)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
