Cronje to start against Rebels
The most significant selection is Ross Cronjé starting at scrumhalf ahead of Springbok Francois de Klerk.
Lourens Erasmus comes in at lock for Andries Ferreira and will partner with Springbok Franco Mostert in the second row.
Ferreira drops out of the matchday 23 all-together.
Cyle Brink slots in at No.7 in place of Ruan Ackermann, who drops down to the replacement bench – where he will provide lock cover.
On the bench Armand van der Merwe comes in as hooker cover for Robbie Coetzee, Hencus van Wyk provides prop cover ahead of Johannes Jonker, Robert Kruger comes in to provide loose forward cover – with the promotion of Brink to the starting XV.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Anthony Volmink.
Date: Saturday, May 6
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 15.00 (07.00 SA time; 05.00 GMT)
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant referees: Ed Martin (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
